ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Avian Influenza

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to assist poultry farmers to combat any suspected outbreak of avian influenza; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Anyone who keeps poultry has an obligation to report signs of illness in their birds, and must know what to do about an avian influenza notifiable disease: this includes operating adequate biosecurity, and consulting their vet.
	My department has distributed guidance material to our partners in the industry who are helping to distribute this material to their members, who cover the great majority of birds. We have also produced a simple one-page leaflet on biosecurity and surveillance for smaller concerns and back-yard keepers. This was posted on our website and sent out to organisations representing the industry to send on to their members.
	In addition we have placed adverts in trade and specialist press targeting the same audience to get biosecurity and surveillance messages across. All these pieces of guidance are available on the Defra website.

Bees

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding has been allocated to the bee health programme in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The Department's expenditure with the National Bee Unit in each of the last 10 years is set out in the following table:
	
		£
		
			  Defra expenditure with the National Bee Unit 
		
		
			 1996–97 1 ,300,000 
			 1997–98 1,300,000 
			 1998–99 1,300,000 
			 1999–2000 1,300,000 
			 2000–01 1,300,000 
			 2001–02 1,300,000 
			 2002–03 1,300,000 
			 2003–04 1,235,000 
			 2004–05 1,235,000 
			 2005–06 1,235,000

Bees

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the criteria by which funding decisions for the bee health programme are made.

Jim Knight: The bee health programme is funded from the Departmental vote. Funding is allocated in order to achieve the best available value for money in achieving the Department's objectives.

Bees

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to safeguard bee health against the threat of the varroa mite.

Jim Knight: DEFRA (and MAFF before it) has been helping the beekeeping sector to better equip itself to manage varroa infestations ever since the pest was first discovered in England in 1992. The Department has funded a range of measures delivered by the National Bee Unit, including the provision of a free diagnostic and inspection service to beekeepers and a comprehensive training and advisory programme, as well as R&D.
	Although varroa continues to pose challenges to contemporary beekeeping particularly with the development of mite resistance to chemical treatments, it is now endemic in the UK and has been for several years. The Department has issued a consultation document on plans to remove the mite from the list of notifiable diseases in March 2006. However, the National Bee Unit will continue to offer advice to beekeepers about its management and control, as it does now for other serious but non-statutory diseases.

Biofuels

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of arisings from forestry waste were used as biomass fuel in 2004–05.

Margaret Beckett: Information on the removal of tree tops and branch wood for use as fuel following conventional timber harvesting operations is not routinely collected. However, the Forestry Commission estimates that less than 2,000 tonnes of this material, from a possible 500,000 tonnes, was removed from woodland and used as fuel in England last year.

Damages

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2032W, on damages, what the basis was of the (a) personal injury claims and (b) unfair dismissal claim; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	(a) The personal injury claim was brought in relation to a work related upper limb disorder.
	(b) The unfair dismissal and discrimination claim concerned an employee who had failed their probation and lodged a case with the employment tribunal for unfair dismissal and race discrimination. The case was settled via ACAS outside of the employment tribunal without any admission of liability.

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research projects commissioned by her Department are being undertaken; and what the publication arrangements are in each case.

Jim Knight: The Department spends around £160 million each year on research projects covering a wide range of science in support of policy formulation and development. At any one time we have around 1,500 'live' research projects. We publish a large amount of information on completed and ongoing research projects on the department's internet site at:
	http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/Default.asp.
	This information is available free to all. Our searchable system provides a range of information on projects, including title, cost, contractor, duration, description and, once completed, the final report.

EU Decision 2005/745/EC

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the European Union on the duration of decision 2005/745/EC.

Ben Bradshaw: No proposals have yet been made by the European Commission to extend or limit the duration of decision 2005/745/EC.

Flood Defences

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what improvements have been made to flood defences in each borough along the River Thames in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I understand from the Environment Agency that they have undertaken the improvements detailed in the following table. Expenditure on the River Thames is expected to increase significantly during the next five years as many tidal walls and embankments reach the end of their design life and the recommendations from improvement strategies are implemented.
	
		£000
		
			 London borough Location 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Greenwich Thames Barrier and Associated Gates(1) 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 
			 Various Tidal Side Channels and Tributaries(2) 0 2,588 0 1,621 309 
			 Bexley Thamesmead(3) — 16 — — — 
			 Hammersmith Hammersmith(4) 109 — — — — 
			 Tower Hamlets Tower of London(5) 671 — — — — 
			 Tower Hamlets Isle of Dogs: Blackwall Stairs(5) — 125 — — — 
			 Tower Hamlets Isle of Dogs: Lockes Wharf(5) 160 — — — — 
			 Newham Royal Docks: Orchard Wharf(5) — — 325 — — 
			 Chiswick Strand on The Green Frontage(5) — — — — 700 
			   5,940 7,729 5,325 6,621 6,009 
		
	
	(1) Annual £5 million for renewals and maintenance. Although the Thames barrier and associated gates are located in the London borough of Greenwich, the benefits accrue across all of the boroughs along the tidal Thames.
	(2) Renewals and maintenance. The breakdown includes all improvements on the River Thames and excludes works on side channels and tributaries.
	(3) New tidal flap gate.
	(4) Moveable tidal defences installation.
	(5) Tidal wall-embankment repairs.

Floodline

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many telephone calls were received by Floodline in each of the last 36 months; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority responsible for flood risk in England and operates the Floodline telephone advice service. The number of calls is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of calls 
		
		
			 2002  
			 November 7107 
			 December 4753 
			   
			 2003  
			 January 14,065 
			 February 1879 
			 March 1890 
			 April 1496 
			 May 1597 
			 June 1548 
			 July 1697 
			 August 1574 
			 September 2109 
			 October 6476 
			 November 2819 
			 December 2203 
			   
			 2004  
			 January 2546 
			 February 5921 
			 March 2154 
			 April 2106 
			 May 1488 
			 June 1763 
			 July 1787 
			 August 6559 
			 September 1928 
			 October 5806 
			 November 2792 
			 December 1809 
			 2005  
			 January 5379 
			 February 2804 
			 March 2269 
			 April 2580 
			 May 2199 
			 June 2870 
			 July 2349 
			 August 2194 
			 September 2305 
			 October 5338

Floodline

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many visits to the Floodline website there were in each of the last 36 months; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Floodline" is an Environment Agency telephone service. The number of times the Flood Warning pages on the Agency's website were accessed are given in the following table. It should be noted that an individual might access more than one page at each visit to the website. Each such page access has been counted separately rather than the visits" as such.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002  
			 November 288,541 
			 December 281,478 
			   
			 2003  
			 January 453,796 
			 February 77,221 
			 March 78,937 
			 April 63,514 
			 May 54,564 
			 June 52,500 
			 July 54,033 
			 August 37,964 
			 September 45,152 
			 October 78,291 
			 November 110,169 
			 December 91,947 
			   
			 2004  
			 January 186,362 
			 February 520,410 
			 March 98,332 
			 April 154,206 
			 May 81,871 
			 June 69,448 
			 July 79,494 
			 August 386,188 
			 September 121,902 
			 October 2,446,509 
			 November 238,813 
			 December 144,280 
			   
			 2005  
			 January 752,578 
			 February 230,328 
			 March 189,832 
			 April 202,371 
			 May 170,801 
			 June 193,276 
			 July 144,772 
			 August 146,962 
			 September 193,619 
			 October 682,603

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions since 7 July she has used the London underground in connection with her official duties.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has not had an opportunity to use the London underground in connection with her official duties since 7 July 2005.

MRSA

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with colleagues in the Department for Health on MRSA, with particular reference to the emergence of similar strains in humans and animals.

Ben Bradshaw: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) in animals has been specifically discussed at the Defra Antimicrobial Resistance Co-ordination (DARC) Group, which is led by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and includes the Department of Health (DH) membership. The VMD held a meeting in 2004 involving DARC group members, and external specialists in MRSA, to consider how the issue should be addressed. It was decided to turn this group into a MRSA sub group of DARC. There have been two meetings of this MRSA sub group in 2005, in January and in July and a position statement on (MRSA) in animals is available on the web at http://defraweb/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/mrsa.htm

North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, columns 1068–69W, on the Regional Advisory Council for North Western Waters, what the (a) mandate, (b) budget and (c) powers are of the Regional Advisory Council for North Western Waters; how many members the Council has; how many UK representatives are on the Council; what posts on the Council are held by UK nationals; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) The remit or mandate of the North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council (hereafter RAC):
	To submit recommendations and suggestions to the European Commission or Member States on matters regarding fisheries management. This may be upon request of the aforementioned bodies or made of the RAC's own accord.
	To inform the Commission or Member States of any problems relating to the implementation of fisheries policy, and suggest ways of addressing the problems.
	Issues addressed will often be relevant to the region concerned, but may also be more general in nature.
	(b) The budget of the RAC for September 2005-September 2006 is 299,310/205,010. This is comes from the Commission (84 per cent.), member states (7 per cent.) and other contributors including members (9 per cent.).
	(c) The RACs play an advisory role only; neither the Commission nor the member states are bound by the advice they receive from the RAC. However those in receipt of advice must respond precisely, within three months of the advice being given.
	Currently there are 82 members on the General Assembly, 24 on the Executive Committee, and 58 members of the four working groups. Of these totals 26, five and 19 are from the UK respectively.
	RAC members from the UK hold the following positions: Chairman of the RAC and Executive Committee, Chairman of the West of Scotland Working Group, Vice Chairman of the English Channel Working Group, and Vice Chairman of the Irish Sea Working group.

Public Sector Energy Savings

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the percentage of energy usage in the public sector that will be saved through energy efficiency measures by 2020.

Elliot Morley: With current policies the public sector is expected to save about 3–5 per cent. of its energy consumption in 2010 compared to a business as usual baseline. Without any further policies the savings would remain at the same level to 2020. Current policies in this sector are being reviewed as part of the wider review of the UK climate change programme.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many statutory instruments introduced by her Department were (a) withdrawn, (b) amended by a further statutory instrument and (c) reprinted because of defective drafting in each session since 1997; and what steps she (i) is taking and (ii) plans to take to prevent further such instances.

Jim Knight: The Department does not maintain comprehensive statistics on these questions for the period since 1997. The Department was created in June 2001. According to available sources dating back to 1999 (which therefore relate in part to MAFF), the Department has in the last six years made 26 instruments which correct defective drafting. The training measures mentioned in the answer to UIN 33554 are designed to limit such occurrences to a minimum.

Waste Disposal

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long it takes on average to build a fully working incinerator to deal with refuse.

Ben Bradshaw: Indicative lead times to develop new waste management facilities are given in Defra's practice guide to support local authorities in developing municipal waste management strategies, which is available on Defra's website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/practice-guidance/index.htm.
	For energy from waste facilities the indicative lead times from commencement of procurement to operation range from five to eight years, depending on factors such as the size of the facility and local planning issues.

Water Supplies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a requirement on water companies to submit an application for water scarcity status before seeking permission for any new reservoir capacity.

Elliot Morley: The Government expects any water company proposing a major new water resources development, such as a reservoir, to have fully investigated the opportunities for enhanced levels of demand management. Enhanced levels of metering is one of the measures that should be considered.
	The legislation governing application for designation as an Area of Water Scarcity are The Water Industry (Prescribed Conditions) Regulations 1999. Under this legislation when determining an application the Secretary of State must have regard to, among other considerations, the water resources which are or could be made available for meeting demand in an area over the period-of 10 years following an application. This would include reservoir capacity.
	One of the projects the recently formed Water Saving Group will be doing is to encourage companies to better use the current powers they have for promoting metering and develop and take forward options for increasing the particular circumstances in which companies have the discretion to meter, particularly in water stressed areas. The Group will also consider the lessons learnt from a review of the current application for area of water scarcity status and encourage further applications for area of water scarcity status in water stressed areas as well as looking at ways of simplifying the application process.

Wild Fowl

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1383W, on wild fowl, what estimate she has made of the total number of mallard released on National Gamebag Census shooting estates in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs has not made any such assessment of the total number of mallard released on National Gamebag Census shooting estates in each of the last five years, but figures provided to the Game Conservancy Trust suggest that on average 34,988 mallard are released each year on shooting estates.
	The actual figures taken from the National Game Census on a yearly basis are as follows:
	
		
			  Total number of Mallard released 
		
		
			 2000 39,614 
			 2001 36,313 
			 2002 25,521 
			 2003 33,734 
			 2004 39,761

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

International Convention Against Doping In Sport

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the UK will ratify the international convention against doping in sport recently adopted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: It is the Government's intention to become party to the convention as soon as the necessary parliamentary procedures have been completed. However, until we receive an authenticated copy from UNESCO of the adopted convention, we are unable at this time to give a precise date for when the UK expects to ratify the convention.

Consultants/Special Advisers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) consultants and (b) special advisers were employed by her Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of each was in each year; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) Detailed records of contracts are not retained for the years 1997 and 1998. In the year 1997 the cost of consultants was £309,000 and in 1998 it was £728,000.
	
		
			 Consultant Contract Amount (£) 
		
		
			 1999   
			 Deloitte and Touche Review of Museums and Galleries 27,500 
			 KPMG Risk Management Systems 11,836 
			 MORI Attitude Survey Research 15,660 
			 PKF Financial Projections 18,000 
			 Price WaterhouseCoopers Royal Armouries Consultancy 21,500 
			 Spectrum E-commerce Best Practice 26,790 
			 Price WaterhouseCoopers Business Risk Management 24,220 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 58,000 
			 Total — 203,506 
			
			 2000   
			 Lorien NDPB Review Programme (Framework)  
			 PKF NDPB Review Programme (Framework) 223,602 
			 Capita NDPB Review Programme (Framework)  
			 PKF BBC's Financial Reporting 27,300 
			 ORC International Staff Survey Report 13,130 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 22,600 
			 Total — 286,632 
			
			 2001   
			 McKinseys Culture Online Formation 1,340,000 
			 AHL Ltd Internal Audit Resources 70,000 
			 Organisational Consulting Horse Race Levy Scheme 40,000 
			 Price WaterhouseCoopers Commonwealth Games Review 58,500 
			 AJW Associates Coaching Task Force 10,000 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 37,100 
			 Total — 1,457,100 
			
			 2002   
			 Kingshurst Consulting Group Capital of Culture Analysis 30,480 
			 Richard Lambert BBC News 24 requirement) 44,700 
			 MORI BBC News 24 requirement)  
			 Robert Palmer Capital of Culture Adviser 30,000 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers E-Commerce Impact Study 43,750 
			 Stanton Marris Touchstone Project 85,000 
			 Hay Group Skill Audit 136,195 
			 Atkins Management Consultants Financial Adviser-Apethorpe Hall 17,290 
			 Experian Cultural Facilities Register 42,400 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 28,600 
			 Total — 458,415 
			
			 2003   
			 Kingshurst Consulting Group Capital of Culture shortlist 16,875 
			 Health Food and Safety Solutions Fitness for Purposes 16,000 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers London 2012 Costs and Benefits 38,000 
			 Gillian Ashmore Review of Heritage Protection 50,000 
			 Odgers, Ray and Berndtson Public Appointments Advice 50,000 
			 Europe Economics BBC Online Review)  
			 Spectrum Strategy Consultants BBC Online Adviser) 332,000 
			 Philip Graf BBC Online Review Co-ordinator)  
			 ASK Europe plc 360 Degree Feedback 130,070 
			 Denis Allnut Tourist Data Project 15,750 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 23,450 
			 Total — 672,145 
			 2004   
			 PA Consulting Local Communities Project 151,410 
			 PKF Historic Environment Review 40,090 
			 The Gartner Group Benchmarking of IT Services 29,100 
			 Patrick Barwise BBC New Digital Services—TV) 161,300 
			 Tim Gardam BBC New Digital Services—Radio)  
			 Shared Intelligence Peer Reviews 61,300 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Efficiency Review 89,410 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Olympic Cost Review 114,080 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Olympic Games Impact Study 72,000 
			 AHL Ltd Audit Services 23,100 
			 Ubiqus BBC Charter Review 42,000 
			 Angela Watson and Associates Cultural Services Framework 40,000 
			 Eftec Olympic Games Impact Study 128,530 
			 Morris Hargreaves Mclntyre Museums Education Strategy 12,000 
			 Deloitte and Touche Sports Strategy 24,000 
			 Odgers,Rayand Berndtson Headhunting 18,000 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 26,000 
			 Total — 1,032,320 
			
			 2005   
			 Opsis Renewal Consulting Framework for NDPB Reviews 66,900 
			 Hedra plc NDPB Governance 47,660 
			 Price WaterhouseCoopers Licensing Act 29,500 
			 Price WaterhouseCoopers Sponsorship of British Library 24,000 
			 KPMG Olympic Games Validation 255,000 
			 Helen Nimmo Olympic Games Transition)  
			 Matthew Symes Olympic Games Transition) 303,000 
			 Kate Cohen Olympic Games Transition)  
			 Ubiqus BBC requirement 38,500 
			 Veredus Public Appointments Advice 14,000 
			 Small miscellaneous projects aggregate — 42,500 
			 Total — 831,060 
		
	
	Outside legal firms employed by DCMS have not been included in the list.
	(b) Since 2003, the Government has published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 21 July 2005, Official Report, 158–62WS.
	Information on the numbers of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Licensing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate the Government have made of the number of (a) village halls, (b) sports clubs and (c) community centres which have applied for a full premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: Initial feedback from licensing authorities suggests that the vast majority of the 9,000 village halls in England and Wales applied to convert their old licences into new premises licences. We do not hold the information on the number of community centres that applied for premises licences or the number of sports clubs that applied for premises licences rather than club premises certificates.

Licensing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1403W, on licensing appeals, what guidance has been provided to magistrates courts by (a) the Magistrates' Association and (b) the Justices Clerks' Society.

James Purnell: The main guidance that has been provided to magistrates courts on the Licensing Act 2003 is through a training pack designed by the Justices Clerks' Society and issued by the Judicial Studies Board. The procedure for magistrates' courts is one that they are familiar with as they already deal with appeals arising from local authority decisions for example, on hackney carriage licences and entertainment licences.

National Water Sports Centre

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the outcome was of the recent inquiry into the future of the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierpoint; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Sport England is carrying out a review of the future of the National Sports Centres, including the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont. The Holme Pierrepont site is owned by Nottinghamshire county council (NCC) and leased to Sport England through the Sports Council Trust Company. A joint Sport England and NCC study of the wider strategic development options for Holme Pierrepont has been carried out, taking into account sporting requirements and local and regional stakeholder interests.
	These options are still being evaluated. Discussions between Sport England and NCC continue with the aim of developing a strategy that offers a stronger long-term future for the site.

Olympic Games

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the contribution of London council tax payers will be to the 2012 Olympics.

Richard Caborn: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London (Command Paper CM5867 laid before the House in June 2003) provides for a contribution to the Olympics from the London council tax payer of up to £625 million over a period of eleven years.

Olympic Games

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the latest estimate of the costs of holding the Olympic games in London in 2012.

Richard Caborn: The most recent figures for the costs of holding the Olympic games in London in 2012 are published in the candidature file. These costs are currently under review as part of process of robust cost management that is being put in place following the successful Olympic bid.

Olympic Games

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Olympic Delivery Authority is expected to (a) select its chairman and (b) be a functioning body.

Richard Caborn: On 18 November my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the selection of Mr. Jack Lemley as the chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority. From 1989 to 1993 Mr. Lemley was chief executive of Trans-Manche Link, the consortium responsible for the construction of the channel tunnel. The appointment was made in accordance with the code of practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The timing of the establishment of the Olympic Delivery Authority is subject to the passage of the London Olympic games and Paralympic Games Bill.

Olympic Games

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the relationship is between the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Olympic Transport Authority; and to whom each is accountable.

Richard Caborn: The Olympic Transport Authority will be part of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), which will itself be accountable to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport as a member of the Olympic Board. In addition, the ODA's annual report and statement of accounts will be laid before Parliament.

Olympic Games

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the state is of negotiations between the London Development Agency and London and Continental Railways Limited regarding land needed for the 2012 Olympics over which London and Continental Railways Limited has development rights.

Richard Caborn: Negotiations have resulted in the parties reaching an agreement. The agreement ensures that all the land and infrastructure required for the Olympics on the Stratford City land can be delivered and that the first phase of the Stratford City development, known as zone 1, can proceed.

Olympic Games

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures have been taken to ensure that unemployed people in inner London constituencies benefit from increased employment opportunities connected to construction work prior to the 2012 Olympics.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to ensure that the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games maximise the potential for job creation, training and business growth so that the games leave a lasting social and economic, as well as physical, legacy for London and the rest of the UK. This is reflected in the Procurement Principles" published by the interim Olympic Delivery Authority in September which will form the basis of the draft procurement strategy to be adopted by the Olympic Delivery Authority.
	The London Development Authority is also now finalising a framework of initiatives with the London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Greenwich designed to give local people the skills they need to access Olympic-related jobs (including those in construction). This is an important pre-condition of the Olympic and legacy planning permissions granted by the boroughs in 2004. The details of how this programme will be delivered, match funding arrangements, and how the programme will operate within the existing construction training environment will need to be finalised and agreed with the boroughs as part of the ongoing planning process.

Olympic Games

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the International Olympic Committee and (b) National Olympic Committees on the prevention of exploitation of and cruelty to children training in Olympic sports.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no such discussions with the International Olympic Committee or other National Olympic Committees.
	However, the Government firmly believes that parents and their children have a right to believe that they will be safe and well protected whilst participating in all sport. All sports organisations that receive statutory funding through Sport England must have an active child protection policy in place. The Child Protection in Sport Unit—a partnership between the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Sport England, sportscotland, the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Sports Council for Wales—works with the various National Governing Bodies of sport on their child protection policies to ensure that this happens.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what preparations and planning her Department has undertaken in connection with events to mark Her Majesty the Queen's diamond jubilee in 2012.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is not currently involved in preparations to commemorate The Queen's diamond jubilee in 2012. Any announcement of plans will be made closer to the time.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Crashes

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure was followed in clearing the radar altimeter hold for use on (a) the Chinook HC1 and (b) the Chinook HC2.

Don Touhig: The Chinook HC1 radar altimeter system under went detailed flight trials at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), Boscombe Down (now Qinetiq). Prior to the upgrade of the Chinook HC1 to Chinook HC2, further trials were undertaken, also at A&AEE.

Army Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles have been sent to the Army Base Repair Organisation workshop Donnington for specified repair-only repairs over the past five years, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Equipment 
			  Warrior CVRT 
		
		
			 2000–01 1 0 
			 2001–02 0 0 
			 2002–03 1 4 
			 2003–04 1 24 
			 2004–05 7 36

Army Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Warrior and (b) CVR(T) vehicles are expected to be sent to Afghanistan in 2006.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made on 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 41WS.
	Once ISAF plans for expansion into the South and East of Afghanistan mature, individual Allies, including the United Kingdom, will be able to take final decisions on deployment of forces and capability.

British Troop Deployment (Afghanistan)

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops will be deployed to Afghanistan in the next 12 months; and in which region of Afghanistan they will be deployed.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 December 2005
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement I made on 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 41WS.

Claims Annual Report

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the background to the claims referred to in (a) Annex C and (b) Annex D of the Claims Annual Report 2004–05.

Don Touhig: The top 10 settled claims by value brought by service personnel and civilian employees under the Department's Employer's Liability obligations are set out in Annexes C and D of the Ministry of Defence's Claims Annual Report 2004–05. These claims are handled respectively by Royal and Sun Alliance and AXA Corporate Solutions, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Such claims are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a proven legal liability, compensation is paid.

Claims Annual Report

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature of the cases referred to in paragraph 10.25 of the Claims Annual Report 2004–05.

Don Touhig: The cases referred to in paragraph 10.25 of the Ministry of Defence's Claims Annual Report 2004–05 relate to compensation claims arising in Northern Ireland. The details are as follows:
	
		High value bloodstock claims
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Death of five year-old mare as a result of being startled by low flying helicopter 32,000.00 
			 Death of foal 12,700.00 
			 Veterinary fees 108.70 
			 Total 44,808.70 
			   
			 Injury leading to loss in value of racehorse as a result of being startled by low flying helicopter 23,400.00 
			 Loss in training fees 1,600.00 
			 Potential loss of earnings 5,000.00 
			 Total: 30,000.00 
			   
			 Injury leading to loss in value of stallion as a result of being startled by low flying helicopter 24,507.45 
			 Total: 24,507.45 
		
	
	
		High value personal injury claims
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Claimant thrown from a trailer attached to a moving tractor sustaining serious injury. Value of compensation paid: 184,000.00 
			 Injuries sustained when claimant's car was hit by a rising bollard as he was leaving a military base. Value of compensation paid: 100,000.00 
			 Injuries sustained by an 80 year-old lady as a result of being blown off her feet by a Chinook helicopter 30,900

Defence Advisory Notices

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Defence Advisory (DA) Notices were issued to the media in each month since January 1997; and how many were (a) DA-Notices 01, (b) DA-Notices 02, (c) DA-Notices 03, (d) DA-Notices 04 and (e) DA-Notices 05.

Adam Ingram: The term 'DA Notice' refers only to the five standing Defence Advisory (DA) Notices agreed by the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee (DPBAC). Changes to DA Notices are made rarely and are circulated directly to editors throughout the UK, and made available to the public through the DPBAC website (www.dnotice.org.uk). Only two changes have been made to the standing DA Notices since January 1997. In May 2000, the then DA Notice No 6 was incorporated into DA notice No 4 (sensitive installations and home addresses). In March 2005, DA Notice No 4 was amended to reflect concerns over possible terrorist attacks on elements of the critical national infrastructure.
	Additional DA Notice guidance, amplifying the advice set out in the standing DA Notices, is issued by the DPBAC secretary (on behalf of the Committee) to all editors in the United Kingdom to cover specific circumstances or to meet particular concerns. Since January 1997, the DPBAC secretary has written to all UK editors amplifying DA Notice guidance on the following occasions:
	1997: No record of any letters being issued
	1998: No record of any letters being issued
	1999: February DA Notice No 6 (two letters); May DA Notice No 6
	2000: August DA Notice No 5; September DA Notice No 5
	2001: September DA Notice No 5; October DA Notice No 5; November DA Notice No 5
	2002: January DA Notice No 5
	2003: May DA Notice No 5 (two letters)
	2004: September DA Notice No 2; November DA Notice No 1
	2005: August DA Notice No 2; October DA Notice No 2

Defence Procurement

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the defence procurement projects in which changes in acquisition numbers have been made since 1997;
	(2)  if he will list the defence procurement projects in which capability requirement changes have been made since 1997.

Adam Ingram: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the meetings he held with Crown Prince Abdullah and officials in July during his visit to Saudi Arabia included discussion of the Eurofighter Typhoon; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the meetings he held with Crown Prince Abdullah and other officials in July 2005 on his visit to Saudi Arabia were attended by employees of BAE Systems; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the meetings he held with Crown Prince Abdullah and other officials in July 2005 on his visit to Saudi Arabia included discussions on (a) Saad al-Faqih and (b) Mohammed al-Masari; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 563W. I have nothing further to add.

Falkland Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the size of the UK garrison in the Falkland Islands.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to change the size of the United Kingdom garrison in the Falkland Islands. We keep all commitments under continual review and adjust resources when it is appropriate to do so.

Former Warsaw Pact Countries

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list those former Warsaw pact countries belonging to NATO which have made information available (a) bilaterally to the United Kingdom, (b) to NATO and (c) by means of general publication revealing former Soviet plans to use (i) nuclear and (ii) conventional weapons in Europe;
	(2)  if he take steps, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to obtain the material aboutformer Soviet plans for (a) nuclear and (b) conventional warfare in Europe released by the Polish Government and publish translations in English of this material.

John Reid: Former Soviet plans for the use of nuclear and conventional weapons in Europe are of historic interest only. The Ministry of Defence have not therefore attempted to draw together information made available by former Warsaw pact countries; to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
	We are aware that the Polish Government have recently released information about former Soviet plans for the use of nuclear weapons in Europe. However, as this information is considered to be of historic interest only, the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have no plans to publish translations of this information.

Future Aircraft Carrier

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reasons Ministers in his Department have ceased to identify the target in-service dates for each Future Aircraft Carrier as 2012 and 2015;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on changes in the targetin-service dates for each of the Future Aircraft Carriers.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 December 2005, Official Report, column 818W.

HMS Sheffield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1409W, on HMS Sheffield, whether the departmental files that are under review also contain all the reports that were written by the HMS Sheffield veterans on board the tanker British Elsk while on passage from the Falkland Islands to Ascension Island; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Witness statements are held on file from all but one of the surviving members of HMS Sheffield's crew.

Jet Emissions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that carbon emissions from military jets are offset by carbon reducing programmes.

Don Touhig: The Government are committed to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from central Government civilian air travel from April 2006. Defra are developing a strategy for an offsetting scheme across Government. The MOD is currently working with Defra to identify how best to contribute to this.

Joint Combat Aircraft

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent information he has received about whether the United States intends to develop the STOVL variant of the Joint Combat Aircraft; and what assessment he has made of the effect on plans for (a) the Future Aircraft Carriers and (b) the RAF if the STOVL variant were cancelled.

Adam Ingram: Development of the STOVL variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which is the solution to the UK Joint Combat Aircraft requirement, continues as planned. Assembly of the first STOVL development aircraft has commenced with its first flight planned for late 2007. It is too early to say what will emerge from the US Quadrennial Defence Review (QDR). So far as the STOVL JSF is concerned, however, while there is no doubt that it will remain under close scrutiny as the development programme transitions into production, we are not aware of any delay as a result of the QDR.

Lynx Helicopter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to sign the contract for the Future Lynx helicopter; and when he expects it to enter service;

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence the service entry planning assumption target date is for the Future Lynx project; and what provisions he has made for (a) naval and (b) Amy helicopter capability until the Future Lynx enters service.

Adam Ingram: The Future Lynx is our preferred procurement option to meet the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft and Battlefield Reconnaissance helicopter requirements. This is, however, subject to continuing negotiations with the company, and the main investment decision has not yet been taken. While the Department will consider a number of planning assumptions for in-service dates when conducting assessment studies on projects, actual in-service dates are not set until projects achieve their main gate approval. If we decide to proceed with FLynx its entry into service will be coordinated with the progressive withdrawal from service of the current Lynx aircraft.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has visited wounded soldiers since May; and in which locations.

John Reid: I visited wounded soldiers at Shaibah field hospital in Iraq on 17 May and again on 2 December. My ministerial colleagues have also visited wounded soldiers on four occasions since May:
	My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans visited wounded soldiers at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) in Birmingham on 8 September. This was in a private capacity and was part of a wider official visit.
	My right hon. Friend the Minster for the Armed Forces visited wounded soldiers at RCDM on 14 June.
	My noble Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement visited wounded soldiers at RCDM on 18 November, and visited Shaibah field hospital in early July.
	With regard to support for wounded servicemen and women, the Government's priority has been to provide the best possible medical care to injured personnel, giving them the peace and quiet needed to allow a speedy recovery. It is the emotional support provided by friends and family that is of most importance to our injured soldiers. The Government supplement this through the wide range of welfare services made available by the Ministry of Defence.

MOD Contracts

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the audit clauses contained in contracts between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems agreed over the past two years.

Adam Ingram: A number of defence contract conditions (DEFCONS) provide for audits or investigations to be conducted in a variety of circumstances during and after the contract period, mainly for pricing, quality assurance and government property holdings purposes. Audits are conducted by the appropriate MOD integrated project team staffer authority, such as the pricing and forecasting group, defence quality assurance authority or directorate of internal audit.
	Information about the clauses contained in the 639 contracts between the MOD and BAE Systems and its divisions agreed over the past two financial years is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, a 'Conditions guide' and a copy of each DEFCON, along with other commercial policy information, are available through the Commercial Toolkit at www.ams.mod.uk. I will place a copy of the 'Guide' in the Library of the House.

Naval Rules of Engagement

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the rules of engagement under which the Royal Navy ships operate in the Mediterranean to deal with (a) threats of terrorism, (b) drugs and arms running and (c) the smuggling of illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment in detail on the rules of engagement under which our armed forces operate.

Royal Ordnance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1092W on Royal Ordnance, from which country each of the munitions listed are to be sourced.

Adam Ingram: BAE Systems Land Systems remain responsible for the alternative sourcing of items previously manufactured at their Bridgwater and Chorley sites, and for maintaining overall security of supply. The company is examining a range of alternative sources for the products, both at home and overseas. The details are a matter for the company.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Bona Vacantia Division

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Solicitor General what the national targets are for the Bona Vacantia division; and what the performance of relevant offices in South Devon has been against those targets.

Mike O'Brien: There are no national targets for the Bona Vacantia division for either receipts or volumes of new cases as it would be inappropriate to set targets in these areas. The Bona Vacantia division does not in general seek out bona vacantia assets relying instead on notification by others.
	Income and expenditure from bona vacantia is detailed in the Crown's nominee account, laid before Parliament each financial year. The Bona Vacantia division operates from the offices of the Treasury solicitor based in central London. There are no other Bona Vacantia offices located anywhere else in England and Wales.
	Information on the volume of cases as well as a suite of internal quality targets is kept by the division. These include responding to new cases within five working days, against which performance in the year to date is 94.3 per cent. and responding to complaints within 10 working days, against which performance this year is 100 per cent.. Apart from Northern Ireland there is no geographical breakdown of this information for England and Wales.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued to children in each local authority in England and Wales in each year since they were established, broken down by age of child.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the tables and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Antisocial Behaviour

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department 
	(1)  if he will list the grants available to organisations tackling antisocial behaviour in East Sussex; and how much money is available in each case;
	(2)  what funding is available to organisations tackling antisocial behaviour in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex;
	(3)  how much money has been spent on antisocial behaviour prevention in East Sussex since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 1 December 2005
	Prior to the antisocial behaviour unit being set up in January 2003 there was no specific funding for antisocial behaviour. However since 2003 each CDRP has received £25,000, primarily for an ASB co-ordinator. In 2004 Hastings was made an action area. £55,000 has been allocated to Hastings for 2005–06.
	This resource has been used to help support the recruitment of housing association staff to work in the ASB team. It has also been used to fund in part the development of four together action zones which will divide the area and enable a more structured approach to tackling ASB. Some of the resource will be spent on a targeted advertising campaign informing residents about ASB and how to tackle it.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of hon. Members' correspondence with his Department was answered within 15 working days for the period (a) January to March, (b) April to June and (c) July to September; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The proportion of Members' correspondence answered by core Home Office units (excludes the Immigration and Nationality Department and agencies) within 15 working days was: 52 per cent. in January to March 78 per cent. in April to June 93 per cent. in July to September. In October we reached the target of 95 per cent. of Members' correspondence that was answered within 15 working days.

Council Tax Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an individual prosecuted in the magistrates court for intentionally delaying or obstructing a Valuation Office Agency representative conducting a council tax valuation inspection would receive a criminal record if convicted.

Hazel Blears: A person who intentionally obstructs a valuation officer commits an offence and may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level two (£500) on the standard scale. This is not a recordable offence and will not be recorded nationally on the police national computer, but will be recorded on local police and court records.

Data Analysis

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps have been taken to speed up the processing of data analysis by (a) the police and (b) the security services.

Hazel Blears: Recent investigations have demonstrated how the use of technology by terrorist suspects has an impact on the data processing required by investigating authorities. However, the steps taken by the police and the Security Service to respond to this increased requirement is an operational matter on which it would not be appropriate to comment.

Data Analysis

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of police officers is which has been assigned to the processing of data held by a terrorist suspect.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not hold this information. A decision on the number of police officers deployed to focus on a particular area of an investigation, such as processing data is the responsibility of the chief constable of the force concerned.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the (a) salary, (b) pension and (c) other costs relating to the former Joint Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission were not included in the Commission's annual report and accounts 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information may only be made available with the consent of the individual concerned and it was specifically not given.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the (a) salary, (b) pension and (c) other costs relating to the former joint deputy chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The former deputy chair was paid in accordance with the salary range advertised for the post (£50,000-£70,000). Further details can not be disclosed without the consent of the individual concerned. Recruitment costs cannot be identified because they are part of a campaign to recruit 16 commissioners.

Licensing Hours

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit Shrewsbury (a) to assess the impact of extended licensing hours on the town and (b) to discuss the issue with local police.

Charles Clarke: At the present time I have no plans to visit Shrewsbury. I understand however that the majority of the 165 premises within the Shrewsbury and Atcham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area, including public houses, clubs, restaurants and shops that applied for an extension of their opening hours were for extensions of only one or two hours. I also believe West Mercia police, who cover Shrewsbury, have briefed Pub Watch members and licencees on the new powers in the Licensing Act 2003.
	The Act which became effective from 24 November 2005 strengthens the powers the police have to clamp down on crime and disorder if it arises. Not only does that help the police and licensing authorities to do their jobs, but it gives licence holders an added incentive to manage venues responsibly. The Government have given a commitment to monitor the impact of the act on crime and disorder and the other licensing objectives. If necessary the Government will introduce further legislation with the consent of Parliament to strengthen or alter any provisions.

Money Laundering

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which law enforcement agencies have responsibility for (a) monitoring, (b) investigating and (c) prosecuting money laundering offences committed by foreign politically exposed persons which bring money derived from corrupt activities or theft of state assets into the UK financial system; and whether he plans to change the allocation of responsibilities.

Charles Clarke: The principal law enforcement agencies involved are the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and local police forces. Prosecutions are the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office. The Serious Organised Crime Agency will take over the NCIS responsibilities from 1 April 2006.

Motor Vehicle-related Accidents/Deaths

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to propose changes to the law relating to penalties for those responsible for motor vehicle related (a) accidents and (b) deaths.

Fiona Mactaggart: Following consultation on road traffic offences involving bad driving earlier this year the Government are taking forward a number of measures. These include two new offences where a death has occurred: a new offence of causing death by careless driving, with a maximum of five years imprisonment; a new offence dealing with death resulting from illegal (disqualified, unlicensed and uninsured) driving, with a maximum penalty of two years.
	These measures were tabled by the Government as amendments to the Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament and included in the Bill at Lords Report on 22 November. The Government are not recommending any statutory changes in relation to bad driving that causes injury. The consultation proposed that the courts should be under a statutory responsibility to take account of non-fatal injuries when sentencing. This proposal received some support but some respondents thought it was unnecessary and that this is already done in practice in England and Wales.
	The Government agree that requiring sentencers to take appropriate account of these factors in sentencing is an issue better dealt with by the Sentencing Guidelines Council and the Sentencing Commission for Scotland rather than through legislation.

Muttahida Quami

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the activities of the Muttahida Quami movement in the United Kingdom.

Charles Clarke: We do not comment on operational matters nor do we comment on any decisions whether to proscribe or deproscribe organisations

Nursery Bullying Study (Leak Inquiry)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold an inquiry into the leak of the study proposing that nursery staff should identify children aged three and four who bully other children as being at risk of growing up criminals; and for what reason he will not publish the leaked study referred to on page 20 of The Times on Monday 13 June.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 June 2005
	The study on nursery staff and bullying children was more than a year old and could have been leaked at any time during the previous twelve months. Previous leak inquiries have identified the source of other similar leaks over that period. The Secretary of State has therefore decided that a separate leak inquiry is not required in this instance.
	I will not publish the leaked report referred to on page 20 of The Times on Monday 13 June 2005 because, in order to fully protect the ability of officials to formulate clear and well considered policy recommendations, it would not be in the public interest to do so. We do however propose to release a factual synthesis of crime patterns and reduction measures analysis in the new year which will provide a more up to date picture than is currently available.

Police

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have a policy of visiting every crime.

Hazel Blears: Attendance policy in respect of visiting every crime is essentially an operational matter for chief officers and police authorities to determine.
	This information is not therefore collected centrally.

Police

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made towards light touch inspection of high performing police services.

Hazel Blears: HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has conducted a comprehensive scrutiny of core policing activities, known as baseline assessment. The results were published in October, with each activity graded as excellent, good, fair or poor.
	HMIC will now use this baseline assessment to identify high performing forces—ie those with a majority of excellent or good and no poor grades—which will benefit from significant inspection freedoms. Instead of inspecting these forces across the board, HMIC will rely upon a significant degree of self-assessment and will limit its scrutiny to core governance issues—leadership, diversity and integrity—and those areas of greatest threat and vulnerability. Other forces will be subject to more inspection attention but this will be risk-based, focusing on activities attracting a poor grading and, as above, those activities that are high risk such as child protection, the management of dangerous sex offenders, civil contingencies and major crime.
	The inspection effort will also take into account the fact that forces/police authorities are engaged in a significant exercise to reconfigure policing for the 21st century. HMIC will support the process by advising on how current high levels of performance can be maintained, and by ensuring that forces go into new merged arrangements, where appropriate, with a clear balance sheet" of their respective strengths and weaknesses. HMIs' assessments of force leadership will specifically address the chief officers' change management capabilities.

Police

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) role and (b) composition of the police authority will be in the proposed strategic police forces.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 5 December 2005
	We continue to see a vital role for police authorities in setting priorities for strategic police forces and in holding the chief officer to account for the delivery of an efficient, effective and responsive policing service. Under the provisions of the Police Act 1996, any order amalgamating police force areas would provide for the establishment of a police authority for the new force.
	As now, the authority would comprise a mix of councillors, magistrates and independent members. The White Paper Building Communities, Beating Crime" set out proposals for strengthening the role and composition of police authorities, including by widening the skills and experience of the membership by removing the separate category of magistrate members.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate the National Criminal Intelligence Service has made of the value of assets held by foreign politically exposed persons in the UK.

Charles Clarke: No estimate has been made as the National Criminal Intelligence Service only receives and assesses suspicious activity reports of money laundering.
	It would not be appropriate to comment on intelligence assessments carried out by NCIS.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bank or building society accounts held by politically exposed persons in the UK are being monitored by law enforcement agencies; and how much money is held in these accounts.

Charles Clarke: This information is not held centrally. The National Criminal Intelligence Service does not have the powers to monitor bank or building society accounts. This is a function of individual law enforcement agencies.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons on the list of foreign politically exposed persons which has been circulated to financial institutions in the UK come from (a) Africa, (b) the Middle East, (c) Russia, (d) Europe, (e) Asia, (f) North America, (g) Central and Southern America and (h) other countries.

Charles Clarke: The Government have not circulated a list of foreign politically exposed persons to financial institutions in the UK.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2322W, on politically exposed persons, if he will list the countries of origin of the persons about whom the suspicious activity reports refer; and what the total value was of transactions made by the persons to which the suspicious activity reports refer.

Charles Clarke: It would not be appropriate to comment on current intelligence assessments, or amounts of funds concerned, in view of the risk of prejudicing the outcome of any investigations.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 47W, on politically exposed persons, how many of the suspicious activity reports received by the National Criminal Intelligence Service relating to foreign politically exposed persons have been forwarded to other law enforcement agencies; and if he will list the law enforcement agencies to which they have been sent.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 5 December 2005
	This information is not available. It would be disproportionate to try to compile the details requested as the information is now made available to law enforcement agencies online.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 47W, on politically exposed persons, which Government Departments or agencies submitted the suspicious activity reports which refer to corrupt activity overseas.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 5 December 2005
	It would not be appropriate to comment on those suspicious activity reports, regardless of source, which indicate corrupt activity and are possibly under investigation.

Politically Exposed Persons

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations into the proceeds of corruption held by foreign politically exposed persons in the UK have been initiated by (a) the Metropolitan police, (b) the City of London police, (c) the Serious Fraud Office and (d) other regional police forces.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 5 December 2005
	This information is not available. These are operational matters for law enforcement agencies. It would not be appropriate to comment on any current investigations, in view of the risk of prejudicing the outcome.

Prisoner Rehabilitation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent in 2004–05 on programmes to ensure that prisoners are released with employment or training arranged.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service's custody to work initiative provided £14.2 million to support prisoner resettlement in 2004–05. Of this funding, £5 million was used for supporting prisoners' future employment or training when released. A further £5.2 million was directed to supporting prisoners find accommodation on release, with a further £4 million split between the two. In addition, £4.2 million was invested through the Prison Service Plus initiative to support employment and training outcomes and Jobcentre Plus funded £4.5 million for employment and benefit surgeries.

Terrorist Suspects

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department for what average number of daysterrorist suspects were held over the past two years prior to being (a) charged and (b) released without charge.

Charles Clarke: The maximum period of detention pre-charge was extended to 14 days with effect from 20 January 2004. Between that date and 4 September 2005, 357 people have been arrested of whom 36 have been held for in excess of seven days. A breakdown of these cases is in the table.
	
		
			 Period Number held for this period Charged Released without charge 
		
		
			 2004
			 7–8 days 3 1 2 
			 8–9 days 0 — — 
			 9–10 days 11 6 5 
			 10–11 days 1 0 1 
			 11–12 days 0 — — 
			 12–13 days 0 — — 
			 13–14 days 9 9 0 
			 
			 2005
			 7–8 days 1 1 0 
			 8–9 days 0 — — 
			 9–10 days 5 4 1 
			 10–11 days 1 1 0 
			 11–12 days 1 1 0 
			 12–13 days 2 1 1 
			 13–14 days 2 2 0

Together We Can Conference

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action plan resulted from the Together We Can conference in December 2004; what plans there are to hold future conferences; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Following the December 2004 Together We Can conference, the Home Office worked with Departments across Government to develop the Together We Can action plan, which was launched on 28 June 2005. This draws together community engagement initiatives from across 12 Government Departments around the themes of citizens and democracy; health and sustainability; regeneration and cohesion; and safety and justice. The plan is available on the Home Office website.
	The Home Office leads on the Together We Can plan and the Department has held a series of Together We Can conferences. The next Together We Can conference is likely to take place in March 2006.

Victim Support

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to support victims of crime and their families (a) before an offender is apprehended, (b) during the trial and (c) after the completion of the trial.

Fiona Mactaggart: The key elements of effective support for victims and witnesses of crime are receiving information, having a voice in the system and access to appropriate services.
	The code of practice for Victims of Crime, which will come into force in April 2006, sets out in detail victims' rights to information from all key parts of the criminal justice system. The code covers all stages of the criminal justice process from the point at which an offence is reported to post-sentence. Copies of the code have been placed in the House Library.
	The Victim Personal Statement, introduced in 2001, gives victims a voice by giving them the opportunity to explain how a crime has affected them. The statement forms part of the case papers and can be seen by everybody who makes decisions about the case as it progresses. Building on this, in September 2005, we published proposals for those bereaved through homicide to have their views heard in court. Assistance and support services for victims and witnesses of crime are available at all stages throughout the criminal justice process.
	The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme provides financial help to blameless victims of violent crime. A national network of Witness Care Units is being implemented to provide a more customer focused service to witnesses, this includes the tailoring of services to help the witness attend court. The Home Office also provides £30 million to the charity Victim Support to provide support to those affected by crime, regardless of whether the crime has been reported.

Violent Offences (Licensed Premises)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent offences were committed in connection with licensed premises in each year since 2002–03, broken down by (a) crime and disorder reduction partnership area and (b) basic command unit area.

Hazel Blears: Information on violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises by crime and disorder reduction partnerships is not collected centrally. Police forces returned data for basic command units but they were incomplete and of variable quality. These are given in the table and a copy will be placed in the Library.
	Recording of such incidents will be dependent on levels of police activity and how police define such incidents locally. For example in certain areas where alcohol-related violence is particularly prevalent, local police are more likely to police city centres on Friday and Saturday nights thus recording more incidents of violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises.

TRANSPORT

A5117 Improvements

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the proposed improvements to the A5117 between Deeside Park and the M56 are expected (a) to start and (b) to be completed.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has scheduled the proposed improvements to the A5117 between Deeside Park and the M56 to start in the summer of 2006. Completion of the scheme is scheduled for summer 2008, subject to satisfactory completion of remaining statutory procedures.

Transport Access (Pensioners)

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve pensioners' access to public transport.

Karen Buck: From 1 April 2006 people 60 or over will be entitled to free off-peak bus travel within their local authority boundary or passenger transport executive area.
	We have also introduced regulations for trains and buses and coaches which require new vehicles to be accessible and so easier to use for older people

Street Lights (Bingley)

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that street lights in Bingley in West Yorkshire are improved and paid for by the Highways Agency.

Stephen Ladyman: Following completion of the A650 Bingley Relief Road the Highways Agency passed responsibility for the existing route through Bingley to the City of Bradford metropolitan district council in April 2004. Therefore any improvements to, and funding for, street lighting is a matter for the district council.

Road Congestion

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to prevent congestion increasing on the road network.

Stephen Ladyman: We are tackling road congestion through targeted solutions developed with national and local agenciesinvesting more in the road network, including new capacity where it's justified, trialling innovative new traffic management systems, and exploring the benefits of new ways to manage demand for road spaceincluding road pricing.

Road Congestion

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable is for the Department's research programme into road congestion.

Stephen Ladyman: Tackling road congestion is informed by a wide range of research covering issues such as incident and demand management, as well as road capacity and the use of public transport. Congestion has implications also for the delivery of other objectives, for example relating to safety and the environment. The research on those objectives also contributes to the evidence base on congestion. Much of this is ongoingthough new research is commissioned to improve the evidence available and to address new issues.
	The Department for Transport (DfT) is developing a new high-level Evidence and Research Strategy. It will include an overview of our evidence needs and how these will be met. It will be organised around the Department's strategic priorities and will therefore contain a section on congestion. The strategy is expected to be published on the DfT website within the next few weeks. More details of the individual units' and agencies' evidence and research activities will be published on the Departments website in 2006. Details of current research are available through the DfT and Highways Agency websites.

Mineral Railway Lines

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to safeguard former mineral railway lines for future transport use.

Karen Buck: Disused railway land that is owned by British Rail Residuary Limited is subject to a review of its possible use in the future for railway purposes prior to its disposal. Similar arrangements apply to land owned by Network Rail.

Road Network (East Anglia)

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the road network in East Anglia.

Stephen Ladyman: In recent years, the Department and the Highways Agency have undertaken a number of studies on individual roads and wider areas which have assessed the problems and effectiveness of key routes within East Anglia, including the A11, A12, A120, A14 and A47.

Concessionary Fares

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the availability of concessionary fares for pensioners across local authority area boundaries.

Karen Buck: We are keen for local authorities to work together to provide cross boundary, county or regional-wide schemes where that suits local circumstances. Local authorities will have discretion to work together to provide cross-boundary travel, as they do at present, based on their judgment of local needs and their overall financial priorities.

Concessionary Fares

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date a decision on the distribution of concessionary fares funding will be made.

Karen Buck: The decision was announced as part of the provisional local government settlement on 5 December.

Telford to London Rail Services

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on rail services from Telford to London.

Karen Buck: The Department is continuing to examine the business case for direct rail passenger services linking both Shrewsbury and Telford with London. The work is being carried out in conjunction with the train operators, local authorities in the area and other interested bodies.

A1 Western Bypass

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department required section 106 provision to be made to widen the A1 Western Bypass as part of the approval of Newcastle Great Park; for what stretch of the A1 such widening was required; and when he expects the widening to take place.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 24 November 2005
	Planning approval has been given for the development of Newcastle Great Park in phases. The earlier phases of the development have no planning conditions that require the A1 to be widened. However, in order for the later stages to be built the developer would have to fund the widening of a section of the A1 Western Bypass immediately adjacent to the developmentbetween Ponteland Road and North Brunton Junctionsfrom two to three lanes in each direction, a distance of 4 kilometres. This would be under the provision of a S278 agreement which is equivalent to S106, but for a trunk road not a local road. The timing of the improvement is in the hands of the developer and the rate at which he wishes to implement the phases of the project, and is only guaranteed to go ahead if there is full development of the site.

A14

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations the Department has received from the (a) East Midlands regional assembly and (b) East Midlands Development Agency on improvements to the A14.

Stephen Ladyman: Neither East Midlands regional assembly (EMRA) nor East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) have made any representations to the Department regarding improvements to the A14.
	However, they both contributed to London to South Midlands Multi Modal Study (LSM MMS). Its recommendations were to widen the A14 through the East Midlands to dual three lanes. Both were also heavily involved in the production and publication in March 2005 of the East Midlands regional spatial strategy (RSS 8) and the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy. Both strategies include a timetable for implementing improvements to the A14, matching the LSM MMS recommendations.

A14

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the A14 Kettering bypass is included in the Department's targeted programme of improvements.

Stephen Ladyman: A scheme to widen the existing A14 around Kettering has not yet been included in the Government's targeted programme of improvement (TPI). It will not be included until we are satisfied that a robust and affordable scheme can be delivered to meet the aspirations set out in the East Midlands regional spatial strategy (RSS 8) and the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy, both published in March 2005.
	Both documents state 201617 as the earliest implementation date for the widening scheme. Schemes are entered into the TPI between five and seven years before their implementation.

A417 (Maintenance)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for the maintenance of the A417 between Cirencester and Gloucester.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency is responsible for the A417 between Cirencester and Gloucester, which is managed on their behalf, as a Design, Build, Finance and Operate contract, by Road Management Services (Gloucester) Limited.

Blue Badge Scheme

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what offence is committed if someone wrongly takes advantage of the Blue Badge scheme on private land; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The Blue Badge scheme is a European and national scheme offering parking concessions primarily for disabled people with severe walking difficulties who travel as drivers or passengers. The scheme applies to on-street parking only.
	The Blue Badge scheme does not apply to off-street car parks, private roads or at most airports. Charges for and conditions of use in off-street car parks, which are likely to be privately owned and managed, are a matter for the landowner. It is unlikely that spaces in such off-street car parks marked for blue badge holders are legally enforceable and the regulation of such parking is at the discretion of landowners and depends on the courtesy and consideration of drivers.
	It is the Department for Transport's view that it is possible in law for the owners of a private car park to agree with the local authority that a parking place order be made in respect of that car park. Conditions of use can then be enforced as if it were a local authority car park, with penalties or excess charges levied on offenders. It would, therefore, be an offence under the Traffic Regulation Order rather the Blue Badge regulations.

Buckshaw Village (Railway Station)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress being made on the new railway station at Buckshaw village in Chorley.

Derek Twigg: Lancashire county council have a proposal to provide a new station at Buckshaw Village. The council are in discussions with Network Rail about the proposal, who would be responsible for delivering the project.

c2c Line/One Rail

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment has been made in (a) the c2c line and (b) One Rail between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria in each of the last two years.

Derek Twigg: The One franchise began operation on 1 April 2005, since when the franchise holder has invested approximately 480,000 on the Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria line. c2c does not operate trains on this route.

Car Accidents (Young People)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce car accidents involving people between the ages of 17 and 24 years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: I am very concerned to reduce car accidents involving young drivers, especially those that result in deaths and serious injuries. The Department has recently consulted on a more structured approach to learning to drive and a copy of its decision letter in August 2004 is on the Department's website atwww.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_02817801.hcsp#P37_1339.
	The main conclusions were that:
	the way forward is to improve the education environment so that learners have access to a more consistent and better standard of training;
	the Department's Driving Standards Agency (DSA) should consider what further learning resources might be made available to learners and trainers. In particular, they will look at how modern learning techniques and information technology can be further developed and used to help learners develop safe driving skills for life; and
	the regulatory arrangements for driving instructors will also be reviewed to ensure that the public can have confidence that the driver training services they are buying are of the highest quality. DSA will consult interested parties on measures to achieve these changes.
	We decided that further statutory regulation on the way new drivers learn would be unlikely to make enough of a contribution to road safety to justify legislative action at present.
	The Department has a substantial programme of research relating to learning to drive and new drivers. It is repeating and extending a cohort study of young and new drivers, which is a large scale evaluation of they way people learn to drive, and their attitudes and behaviour, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of measures introduced as part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy. Separate studies are being commissioned on DSA's Driver Record, and the Pass Plus scheme for newly-qualified drivers.

Civil Service Relocation (Scotland)

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

Karen Buck: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The Department was formed in May 2002. Since then no civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland.

Eco-driving

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of proposals to (a) make driving instructors attend training for eco-driving and (b) teach and test learner drivers on eco-driving.

Stephen Ladyman: On 1 October, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) introduced an assessment of eco-safe driving skills as part of the driving ability test taken by those seeking to qualify as Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs). We believe it is important that all drivers should acquire these basic skills at the earliest opportunity, ideally while they are learning to drive.
	When DSA has evaluated the effectiveness of this initiative, we will consider whether an assessment of eco-safe driving skills should form part of the driving theory and practical tests.

Infrastructure Projects

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the suitability of the London underground public-private partnership as a model for future infrastructure projects.

Karen Buck: The London Underground Public Private Partnerships were unique, as the contracts provided for the extensive rehabilitation and replacement of existing assets over 30 years. The National Audit Office published two reports on the London Underground PPPs in 2004, which identified the lessons that could be learnt for other private finance initiatives or public private partnerships, which the Government accepted.

Kent Franchise

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the recent award of the Integrated Kent Franchise will have on rail services between Bexhill and London Victoria.

Derek Twigg: Services from Bexhill to London Victoria are operated by Southern and so are unaffected by the award of the Integrated Kent Franchise.

M6 Toll Road

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the construction cost was of the M6 toll road; and what the total receipts have been to date.

Stephen Ladyman: The construction costs awarded by Midland Expressway Limited (MEL), the concessionaire for the M6 Toll, to its contractor at tender stage were 485.5 million. The overall costs are a matter for MEL, but I understand that the development cost incurred was in the region of 900 million, including construction, the cost of land, interest on loans, consultancy, management and legal fees.
	Information on receipts is not held by the Department for Transport. Requests for this information should be made direct to MEL.

Merseytravel

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1542W, on Merseytram services, if he will publish the evidence on which he based his statement on the promoters' assessment of regeneration and employment impacts; and when he discussed this issue with the promoters.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 1 December 2005
	The Department's view on the regeneration impacts of Merseytram was based on the analysis presented by Merseytravel in their Economic Impact Report. Merseytravel has declined to permit the Department to publish the Economic Impact Report.
	The Department carried out an assessment of Merseytravel's analysis, and will make that available in the House Library, and on the Department's website.

MV Derbyshire/MV Tribulus

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that all information regarding the sinking of (a) the MV Derbyshire and (b) the MV Tribulus has been examined.

Stephen Ladyman: All information on the sinking of the MV Derbyshire has been examined in close co-operation with the families of those who lost their lives.
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will shortly be publishing a Marine Information Note which describes the history of the Derbyshire surveys, the principal findings of the re-opened formal investigation, and records the research programmes undertaken by the DfT and the MCA into seakeeping and wave loads and the Formal Safety Assessment studies on bulk carriers. It also describes the process that led to the introduction of revised standards for bulk carriers by the International Maritime Organization following the sinking of the MV Derbyshire.
	In addition, arrangements are being made to transfer information on the sinking of the MV Derbyshire from the DFT to the National Archives.
	The Tribulus, owned by Shell and registered with the Isle of Man, was involved in an incident in Bantry Bay in 1990 in Irish coastal waters. The matter was not therefore for the UK Government.

Railways

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the composition of Network Rail.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail is a private sector company limited by guarantee, whose board is accountable to its members drawn from the rail industry and other stakeholder groups. Any change to the composition of the board is a matter for the company and its members. Any change to membership is governed by its Articles of Association and company law.

Railways

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish (a) the final regional planning assessment for the North East and (b) the consultants' final report on the review of the Northern Rail franchise; and whether their recommendations will be available to the 2006 rail timetable planning conference in February 2006.

Derek Twigg: I am currently considering the draft of the North East England Rail Regional Planning Assessment with a view to publication in due course. The RPA is an assessment rather than a commitment to certain courses of action. Work on the review of the Northern Rail franchise is proceeding, and I expect to announce proposals for consultation early next year. No decision has been made as to whether any service change proposals relating to the review will be tabled at the 2006 timetable conference.

Railways

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will recommence rail passenger partnership funding for new passenger services; whether such services can be considered under (a) the local transport plan major scheme procedure and (b) a similar procedure; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: There is no plan to re-instate the Rail Passenger Partnership funding programme for new passenger services. Funding in support of such services can be provided by devolved administrations, Passenger Transport Executives and local authorities and, should capital expenditure be required, through the Local Transport Plan Major Schemes procedure, or through the new Network Rail Discretionary Fund. Proposals will need to be supported by a fully costed business case.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2005, Official Report, column 242W, on rail services, what the timetable is for (a) the publication of the results of the South West Trains route utilisation strategy and (b) public consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The final South West main line route utilisation strategy is due to be published by Network Rail in spring 2006. The period for public consultation runs until 6 January 2006.

Railways

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the public subsidy to the railway industry (a) was in 1997 and (b) has been in 2005 to date.

Derek Twigg: Government subsidy for the railways was 1.8 billion in 199697. This year the Government will be spending 4.5 billion on the railway.

Railways

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff work in DFT Rail.

Derek Twigg: There are 327 people working in Department for Transport Rail.

Road Accidents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists, (c) drivers and (d) car occupants were (i) injured and (ii) killed in road accidents in Lancashire in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers and car passengers killed and injured in personal injury road accidents in the county of Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority and Blackpool unitary authority) for the years 19992004 are shown in the table.
	
		Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen UA and Blackpool UA)
		
			  Pedestrians Cyclists Car drivers Car passengers 
			  Fatal Injured(6) Fatal Injured(6) Fatal Injured(6) Fatal Injured(6) 
		
		
			 1999 13 781 0 415 21 2729 13 1743 
			 2000 12 779 2 403 12 2659 11 1554 
			 2001 18 789 4 415 29 2909 4 1706 
			 2002 11 698 1 343 16 2881 14 1686 
			 2003 19 688 1 330 26 2662 12 1524 
			 2004 10 715 3 356 16 2868 11 1612 
		
	
	(6) Includes serious and slight injuries

Road/Rail Journeys (Costs)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the typical per passenger per mile comparative costs of passenger road and rail journeys within the United Kingdom.

Stephen Ladyman: The estimated average cost per passenger/person per mile in Great Britain in 200405 was 15p for bus, 18p for rail and 25p for private motoring by car and van (of which fuel costs account for 7p per mile).
	Estimates are for the average cost faced by the transport user, net of any subsidy. Estimates for bus and rail average costs are based on revenue collected by operators and passenger mileage estimates. The car and van motoring cost estimate is based on household expenditure on private motoring from the Expenditure and Food Survey 200405 and household car mileage figures from the National Travel Survey 2004. Motoring costs include expenditure on car purchase, spares, maintenance, insurance, taxation, fuel and parking, but excludes costs paid by employers. The marginal cost of travelling by car is significantly less than the average cost as car purchase, and other fixed costs, would be excluded.

Roads

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what funding the Government are providing to improve the condition of Bedfordshire's road network; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funds the Government have allocated to (a) road maintenance and (b) improvement of the road network in Bedfordshire in the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency expects to spend the following amounts on the maintenance and improvement of the trunk road and motorway network in Bedfordshire in the current and next three financial years:
	
		
			 Financial year Maintenance ( million) Improvement scheme ( million) 
		
		
			 200506 3.799 34,916 
			 200607 3.375 33,920 
			 200708 3.297 43,427 
			 200809 5,402 157,855 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are approximate and are subject to change.
	In 200506, we allocated Bedfordshire county council, through the local transport plan programme, 3.350 million for its integrated transport block and 6.001 million for capital highway maintenance.
	We have also announced an indicative allocation for highway capital maintenance of 6.001 million for 200607 (as part of a two-year settlement) and that the capital highway maintenance allocation for 200708 will represent a minimum of 75 percent. of the 200607 allocation.
	The integrated transport block and capital highway maintenance provide funding for local capital expenditure except major schemes. It is for the authority to determine how these allocations are spent in line with its local transport plan and their priorities. Other future funding for the integrated transport block and capital maintenance has yet to be announced.
	In addition, funding for the routine maintenance of local roads is provided through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's revenue support grant. This grant is unhypothecated and may be applied to any services.
	Under the local transport plan programme, we have provisionally approved the Bedford Western Bypass, East Luton corridor improvement scheme and A507 Ridgmont Bypass for funding, subject to certain conditions, including the completion of the necessary statutory procedures. Funding for these schemes would be allocated once they had achieved final approval under the Department's procedures for major transport schemes.

Sleep Apnoea

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the effect is of an individual having obstructive sleep apnoea on their eligibility for (a) a driving licence and (b) an heavy goods vehicle licence.

Stephen Ladyman: A driving licence will be revoked if the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is not satisfied that treatment is both effective and well tolerated.
	A licence can be reinstated once satisfactory control is achieved and confirmed by medical inquiry. Confirmation from a consultant or specialist is required for Group 2 (lorry and bus) licence holders. Group 2 drivers will normally be issued with a licence valid initially for one year to allow for periodic medical review. AGroup 1 (car or motorcycle) licence will normally be restored without further restriction.
	All licences issued to drivers with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome are accompanied by advice to the driver and their doctor of the necessity to maintain good control of the condition and the need to report any deterioration in that control.

St. Pancras Station

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to open the unused Thameslink Station underneath St. Pancras.

Derek Twigg: The fitting out and opening of the Thameslink station box underneath St. Pancras Station at Midland Road has always been part of the Thameslink Project.
	The station shell was constructed as planned, as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Project. Further investment will be required to make the station operational.
	As a result of the delays to the Thameslink Project, officials are currently determining the viability and value for money case of fitting out and operating the station prior to the Thameslink Project.

Strategic Rail Authority

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs were incurred by his Department in abolishing the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA); how many people are still employed at the SRA; and when the authority will be completely wound up.

Derek Twigg: The Department is aiming to complete the winding up of the Strategic Rail Authority by the end of this financial year. As such final outturn costs are not available. The current estimate of the financial costs and benefits is set out as follows.
	
		All figures  million
		
			  200506 200607 200708 200809 200910 201011 
		
		
			 DfT extra costs 21.0 34.8 34.8 34.8 34.8 34.8 
			 SRA cost savings 19.5 39 39 39 39 39 
			 SRA building savings 0 4.1 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 
			 Transition costs 11.6 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Net cost (benefit) 13.1 (8.3) (9.7) (9.7) (9.7 (9.7) 
		
	
	As at 15 November 2005 107 people were employed by the SRA.

ThamesLink 2000 Project

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the ThamesLink 2000 Project.

Derek Twigg: The Thameslink Public Inquiry which opened on 6 September 2005 is due to be completed on 7 December 2005. The Inspector is then expected to report to the Secretary of State and the Deputy Prime Minister in January 2006, which will be followed in spring 2006 by the report on closures relating to the Thameslink project. Until these reports are published the Secretary of State cannot comment on the future of the Thameslink project.

Traffic Flow Forecasts

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what retrospective analysis has been undertaken of the accuracy of the Highways Agency's traffic flow forecasts on (a) motorways, (b) A roads and (c) other roads.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency retrospectively analyses the accuracy of the traffic flow forecasts for all improvement schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPIs). On motorways, A roads and other roads where the forecasts have indicated that significant traffic flow changes were likely, the forecast flows are compared with the flows measured one and five years after opening.

Traffic Management

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to issue statutory guidance under section 87 of the Traffic Management Act 2004; and what the reason is for the time taken in so doing.

Karen Buck: The Department is currently working on regulations and statutory guidance on civil parking enforcement under parts 6 and 7 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. This follows a review of the existing system of decriminalised parking enforcement which has been undertaken with the help of key industry stakeholders. We intend to consult on draft parking regulations and statutory guidance in spring 2006, with a view to issuing final regulations and guidance in early 2007. Our work on civil parking enforcement will be followed by regulations and statutory guidance on the civil enforcement of bus lanes and moving traffic offences.

Vehicle Registrations

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) motorcycles, (b) cars, (c) vans, (d) lorries and (e) other vehicles were registered to owners in (i) Kettering, (ii) Northamptonshire and (iii) England in (A) 2004, (B) 2001, (C) 1997, (D) 1992, (E) 1987, (F) 1983, (G) 1979 and (H) 1975.

Stephen Ladyman: For 1997, 2001 and 2004 the information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  1997 2001 2004 
		
		
			 Kettering
			 Motorcycles 1,279 1,766 2,264 
			 Cars 33,355 39,065 42,630 
			 Vans 2,781 3,388 4,013 
			 Lorries 516 524 481 
			 Other 800 826 893 
			 
			 Northants
			 Motorcycles 9,438 13,008 15,780 
			 Cars 261,194 314,342 323,536 
			 Vans 24,270 28,954 31,811 
			 Lorries 6,811 7,988 7,363 
			 Other 9,901 9,665 11,531 
			 
			 England
			 Motorcycles 670,841 904,600 1,051,788 
			 Cars 19,540,596 21,539,954 22,921,368 
			 Vans 1,902,672 2,126,992 2,414,478 
			 Lorries 330,658 367,248 367,205 
			 Other 628,221 593,350 638,031 
		
	
	Prior to 1993, neither body type nor regionalised information is available. However, the total licensed GB stock at the end of each of the requested years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of registered vehicles 
		
		
			 1975 16,511,000 
			 1979 18,616,000 
			 1983 20,209,000 
			 1987 22,152,000 
			 1992 24,577,000 
			 1997 26,974,000 
			 2001 25,126,000 
			 2004 27,028,000

CABINET OFFICE

Standards in Public Life

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Department's role in monitoring standards in public life.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office promotes standards that ensure good governance, including adherence to ministerial and civil service codes.

e-Government Programme

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of the e-Government programme.

Jim Murphy: The Government recently launched our transformation Government strategy enabled by IT.
	Maximising the opportunities provided by IT to make public services increasingly personal and responsive to the needs of customers. The strategy is available at www.coi.gov.uk.

Government Regulation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to reduce the level of Government regulation.

Jim Murphy: We are on track to deliver the radical programme of regulatory reform set out in the March 2005 Budget and the better regulation action plan published in May 2005.
	We have consulted on proposals for a Bill for better regulation that will create a powerful tool to enable wide scale regulatory reform, begun a major exercise to measure and then reduce administrative burdens faced by business, launched a new web-based portal so that business and other stakeholders can submit proposals for simplification and are on track to rationalise the number of regulators in the public and private sectors.

Ministerial Visits

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next intends to visit Duchy lands in Lancaster and Wyre constituency.

Jim Murphy: Pending the appointment of a new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster I am unable to commit to such a visit.

Admiralty Arch

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost to public funds of official residences at Admiralty Arch were in 200405; and who the occupants are.

Jim Murphy: There are no official residencies at Admiralty Arch.

Civil Contingency Secretariat

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what matters the Civil Contingency Secretariat has discussed recently.

Jim Murphy: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat co-ordinates work to improve the United Kingdom's ability to respond to and recover from emergencies. As part of that role, the Secretariat considers the full range of risks that the UK faces and any necessary emergency preparedness, response and recovery measures. It carries out this work in discussion with a wide range of partners from both inside and outside Government.

Civil Service Nurseries

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the running costs of nurseries for civil service staff were in 200405.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office does not hold central expenditure figures on the costs to public funds of nurseries for civil service staff. A number of Departments and agencies support employees' access to child care and in doing so, the civil service shows it is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, supporting a diverse work force and helping staff achieve a better balance between their home and work responsibilities.

Damages

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster further to the answer of 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 963W, on damages, what the basis was of each of the claims; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The basis of each of the four injury claims settled by the Department during 200405 was as follows:
	1. A personal injury claim for damages of 65,629.30 was in respect of an accident that occurred on an outside training activity arranged by the National School of Government at Sunningdale Park.
	2. A personal injury claim for damages of 6,258.70 was in respect of an accident that occurred at the Emergency Planning College, Easingwold.
	3. A personal injury claim for damages of 2,125.00 was in respect of an accident that occurred at 2226 Whitehall.
	4. A personal injury claim for damages of 700.64 was in respect of an accident that occurred at 70 Whitehall.
	In all cases, the amount of damages was arrived at following, and in accordance with legal advice from the Treasury Solicitor.

Departmental Assets

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 963W, on departmental assets, if he will make a statement on the nature of the five items of art and antique furniture referred to; and what the estimated value is of (a) each item and (b) each of the freehold properties referred to.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 50W.

Departmental Tendering Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchyof Lancaster what his policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

Jim Murphy: Procurement in the Cabinet Office is conducted in accordance with Government policy applying to ethical and environmental standards within the overarching policy of value for money. The policy reflects the principles of Community law. Requirements for both services and goods specify relevant environmental factors where appropriate.

Environmental Regulations

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what mechanisms are in place to allow all interested parties to comment on regulatory simplification proposals concerning environmental regulations.

Jim Murphy: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published its initial regulatory simplification plan, 'Lifting the Burden', on the 29 November to allow all interested parties to comment. This signals the start of a process of dialogue between the Department and stakeholders. The initial plan identifies among other proposals, initiatives to reduce the burden of environmental regulations on business. Each of these will, where appropriate, be subject to full consultation.

Health Bill

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the Better Regulation Task Force's report on the proposed regulatory system in the Health Bill.

Jim Murphy: The Task Force has not produced a report on the proposed regulatory system in the Health Bill.
	The Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF) is an independent body, set up to advise Government on action to ensure that regulation and its enforcement comply with the five principles of good regulation. The Cabinet Office, sponsors the BRTF but does not speak for it.

Operating and Financial Review

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the Better Regulation Task Force contributed to the decision not to implement the Operating and Financial Review; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Better Regulation Task Force is an independent body and has not published an opinion on the Operating and Financial Review (OFR).

Terrorism

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy ofLancaster if he will make a statement on the work of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in relation to terrorism.

Jim Murphy: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat co-ordinates work to improve the United Kingdom's ability to respond to and recover from emergencies, including emergencies which arise from terrorism. It plays an important role in delivering the 'Prepare' strand of the Government's counter terrorism strategy.

PRIME MINISTER

Meetings

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with the (a) Democratic Unionist Party, (b) Ulster Unionist Party, (c) UK Unionist Party, (d) Social Democratic and Labour Party, (e) Alliance Party, (f) Sinn Fein and (g) the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland during the last 18 months.

Tony Blair: I have had frequent meetings with political parties in Northern Ireland, and with the Taoiseach.

Public Sector Employees

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the five categories of public sector employees with the highest rates of early retirement due to ill health in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The information requested is not held centrally.

TREASURY

Birth Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of women born in the early 1960s who have never given birth to a child; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your request for an estimate of the number of women born in the early 1960s who have never given birth to a child. (34211)
	Summaries of the estimated proportion of women that are childless in England and Wales are regularly published in the annual reference volume, Birth statistics FM1, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
	The table below shows the proportions and the numbers of women who are childless, for those born in each of the years 1960 to 1965, The proportions are estimated for England and Wales only. These are based on births that occurred up to the end of 2003, the latest year for which data are available. The numbers have been estimated by applying these England and Wales proportions to the United Kingdom population.
	
		Estimated percentage and number of women who have notgiven birth to a child, by year of birth of the woman,United Kingdom, 2003
		
			 Year of birth of woman(7) Percentage of all women in cohort(8)(5508490009) Number of women (000) 
		
		
			 1960 19 80 
			 1961 20 87 
			 1962 20 91 
			 1963 20 96 
			 1964 22 106 
			 1965 22 105 
			 All years 1960 to 1965  565 
		
	
	(7) The years of birth shown are, by necessity, approximate since births before 1963 are available only by calendar year of occurrence and age of mother at childbirth For instance, women giving birth in 2003 at age 42 could have been born in either 1960 or 1961; for convenience, however, they are recorded as belonging to the 1961 cohort.
	(8) Percentages for England and Wales.
	(9) Cohorts born in the early 1960s have yet to reach the end of their childbearing years (taken as age 45), although the proportions of women giving birth for the first time at ages 40 and over are low. For example, in 2003, 18 per cent. of the 1958 cohort were childless at age 45, the same as at age 40.

Great George Street (Refurbishment)

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of refurbishment of the offices in Great George Street was; what the final cost will be to public funds of the private finance initiative; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. member to the answers given by Financial Secretaries to the Treasury Ruth Kelly and Stephen Timms on 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 840W and on 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 868W. The figures relating to 100 Parliament street given in the reply of 13 December 2004 equate to a net present value of approximately 213 million at March 2002 prices.

Prostate Cancer

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in (a) Southend Primary Care Trust area, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England in each year since 1995.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 December 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in (a) Southend Primary Care Trust area, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England in each year since 1995. (34212)
	The latest available figures for the incidence of prostate cancer are for the year 2003. Numbers of newly diagnosed cases in England and other selected areas, are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of prostate(10)cancer in England and other selected areas, 19952003
		
			 Number 
			  Southend PCT Essex county Hertfordshire county Greater London England 
		
		
			 1995 88 527 413 2,455 19,427 
			 1996 88 590 378 2,399 19,794 
			 1997 96 533 394 2,595 19,819 
			 1998 78 591 392 2,653 20,276 
			 1999 83 613 499 2,723 22,057 
			 2000 108 741 521 2,771 24,017 
			 2001 115 880 448 3,037 27,107 
			 2002 94 796 430 3,055 27,267 
			 2003 106 819 389 2,943 26,995 
			 Total 856 6,090 3,864 24,631 206,759 
		
	
	(10) Prostate cancer is defined as code C61 in the international Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD10)
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Public Sector Pensions

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the current level of public sector pension liability.

Des Browne: We do not hold information centrally on the whole public sector pensions liability. The total liabilities of unfunded public service pension schemes as at 31 March 2004 were estimated to be 460 billion. This estimate is based on figures published in 200304 Resource Accounts. The Resource Accounts for all these schemes for 200405 are not yet ready.
	The liabilities of the funded Local Government Pension Schemes across the UK at the latest valuation dates, mostly March 2004, were around 120 billion with assets of around 90 billion.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of what proportion of tax credit claimants who have a reduced tax credit award due to the recovery of an overpayment the reduction is in response to an overpayment occurring in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available.

Unregulated Products

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has (a) to protect consumers from unregulated products sold by banks and (b) to ensure that consumers are made fully aware of which products are regulated and which are not; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulates all banks and financial services providers operating in the UK. The FSA has a statutory obligation to protect consumers and is responsible for policing the regulatory perimeter and for drawing attention to where the boundary lies. FSA rules require banks to explain to customers that a particular product or service is regulated by the FSA.
	The FSA Handbook includes requirements that firms must ensure that they should not make any misleading statements to a client, whether expressly or by implication, that its affairs, or any aspect of them, have the approval of the FSA. This does not, of course, prevent firms from indicating that they are authorised and regulated by the FSA, in conjunction with selling products regulated by the FSA.
	In addition to FSA regulation, the Banking Code is a voluntary code which applies to the large number of banks that subscribe to it. It covers some regulated services, such as deposit-taking, and some unregulated services, such as foreign exchange services. The existence of the Banking Code is one of the reasons why the FSA has not introduced significant additional conduct of business regulation except where required by European legislation.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Property Discounts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local councils in England no longer give a 50 per cent. council discount for (a) empty homes and (b) second homes.

Phil Woolas: As at November 2004, the latest date for which data are available, 209 local authorities in England did not give a 50 per cent. council tax discount for empty homes and 158 local authorities did not give a 50 per cent. council tax discount on second homes.
	The data are as reported on CTB1S forms submitted by billing authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister each year.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government have made of the effects on revenue of council tax collection rates being less than 100 per cent. in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: In 200405, the latest year for which data are available, local authorities in England collected in-year 17.1 billion of council tax out of a possible 17.7 billion. This represents a collection rate of 96.6 per cent. and is the fifth consecutive annual improvement in this figure. However, collection continues once the financial year to which council tax relates ends. In 200405 for instance, authorities collected 368 million that related to previous years.

Councillors (Pensions/Income)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many councils offer pensions for their councillors.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. I understand that the Local Government Pensions Committee of the Employers' Organisation for local government conducted a survey of English local authorities in 2004, seeking details of their decisions on giving councillors access to the local government pension scheme. The results of the survey can be found in LGPC Circular 155 dated April 2004, available on the Employers' Organisation website at: www.lg-employers.gov.uk.

Fire and Rescue Services

Justine Greening: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire and emergency call-outs were handled from fire stations based in the London borough of Wandsworth in each year since 1997, broken down by fire station location.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on emergency call-outs to fires and other incidents broken down by London borough and fire stations within boroughs is not available centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire and Rescue Services

Justine Greening: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire and rescue emergency call-outs took place in the London borough of Wandsworth in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on emergency call-outs to fires and other incidents broken down by London borough and parliamentary constituency is not available centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire and Rescue Services

Justine Greening: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of fire and rescue services based in London in each year since 1997, broken down by London borough; how much of that expenditure was accounted for by manpower costs in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested for London is tabled as follows. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect or hold this information broken down by London borough.
	
		000
		
			  Total expenditure on fire services by London fire and civil defence authority/Greater London authority 199798 to 200304  Cost of fire service employees 
		
		
			 199798 290,323 257,558 
			 199899 303,660 267,725 
			 19992000 308,179 273,865 
			 200001 318,516 281,350 
			 200102 339,680 292,611 
			 200203 364,517 314,814 
			 200304 349,940 295,998 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM Revenue Outturn (RO) data

Fire and Rescue Services

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many call-outs for fires there were at each fire station in (a) Nottinghamshire, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) Derbyshire in the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on emergency responses at fire stations within fire and rescue service areas is not available centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Employees

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department plans to publish the conclusions of its review of political restrictions of employees in local government.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to publish these conclusions shortly.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what monitoring he undertakes of the operation of local strategic partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned an extensive independent research programme to evaluate the operation of Local Strategic Partnership (LSPs). The main LSP research has been running for over three years and it includes a survey of all LSPs in 2002 and 2004 and in-depth case studies in different areas across the country. The full research programme can be found in the ODPM's website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1136876. The final report of this phase of the evaluation will be published in the new year.
	In addition, since 2004 all LSPs in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund resources have been required to develop a performance management framework. This is a self assessment process based on a framework of three core requirementsthe review of outcomes, partnership working and improvement planning. To ensure the process is robust, regional Government offices have undertaken annual reviews with those LSPs, challenging their assessments to ensure they are an accurate reflection of performance. Government offices provide the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with a report on each of the 87 LSPs in September each year.

London Underground (Fire Safety)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2005, Official Report, column 842W, on London Underground (Fire Regulations), if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to revise legislation dealing with general fire safety on the London Underground.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have, with the support of all sides of the House, brought forward a reform of general fire safety legislation in the form of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (SI 2005 No. 1541). The Select Committees that considered the draft order (the Regulatory Reform Committee and the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee in another place) considered that continuance of the necessary protections afforded by the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations Regulations 1989 (as amended) by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 could be demonstrated by guidance. The Government are firmly of the view that all necessary protections are either continued or enhanced by the new regime. However, in the light of the consideration given by the hon. and noble Members of the Committees, the Government decided to withdraw revocation of the 1989 regulations until such time as guidance was in place which shows how the protections are continued.
	Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is convinced that the case is made, we always listen to concerns about fire safety. We therefore propose to run the new regime in tandem with the old so that ample evidence of the efficiency and broad ranging nature of the new regime can be shown. Once that evidence has been gathered we expect to proceed to remove the 1989 regulations. However, the evidence shows there to be a gap, or a problem we have not foreseen, then we will work to make sure any such gap or risk is fully addressed before the 1989 regulations are removed.
	We believe the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, addressing as it does all general fire safety risks and placing prevention of fire and mitigation of the effects of fire as of equal standing to safe evacuation is the right way forward. However, the safety of the public using and staff working on the underground railway systems is of vital importance and it is not something we will compromise.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Lyons inquiry remit includes (a) reviewing the financial case for two-tier local government and (b) the merits of unitary local authorities.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 813W.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the decision to broaden the Lyons inquiry's remit to include local government pay and salaries.

Phil Woolas: The extended remit of Sir Michael Lyons' independent inquiry was announced on 20 September, and a copy of the extended terms of reference was made available in the Library of the House. The remit includes consideration of the mechanisms in place to manage pressures such as pay. There has been no decision to broaden this remit.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent in each year from 1 May 1997 on ministerial travel, broken down by (a) provision and running costs of vehicular transport, (b) first class travel by rail, (c) standard class travel by rail, (d) first class travel by air, (e) club or equivalent class travel by air and (f) economy class travel by air.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	(a) My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office has asked Roy Burke, chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to write to the hon. Member with details of the costs of ministerial vehicles provided to departments in 200405. Copies of his letter will be made available in the Library of the House.
	For information for the financial years 200001 to 200304 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the chief executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.
	(b) and (c) During the financial year 200405, expenditure on rail travel by Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was 17,772. Information on the class of tickets obtained is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Detailed information in respect of rail travel taken by ministers since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002 until 200304 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(d) , (e) and (f) In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 199596 to 200405. Information for 200506 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
	During the financial year 200405, expenditure on domestic flights by ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was 4,378. Information on the class of tickets obtained is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Detailed information in respect of domestic air travel taken by Ministers since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 200304 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list, for each year since 1995, the number of flights, including helicopter flights, taken by Ministers within his Department for UK and overseas visits; on how many occasions (a) charter flights were used and (b) first and club class tickets were obtained; and if he will indicate who accompanied the Ministers on each trip.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. The list indicates when non-scheduled flights were used-and shows how many officials accompanied ministers in those circumstances. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 199596. Information for 200506 will be published after the end of the financial year.
	During the financial year 200405, Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have taken 19 domestic flights. Detailed information in respect of flights taken by Ministers since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002 until 200304 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Revaluation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to allow local councils to revalue properties which have been extended for the purpose of calculating council tax; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to allow local councils to revalue properties which have been extended. This is the statutory responsibility of listing officers employed by the Valuation Office Agency. Properties will be placed in a higher band for council tax purposes only after a sale and only where the increase in value merits this.

Sustainable Communities Plan

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department provides to (a) regional planning bodies and (b) regional assemblies on (i) the allocation of funds for capital programmes and (ii) co-ordination with local authorities covered by the sustainable communities plan.

Phil Woolas: Regional assemblies, who are also the regional planning bodies, comprise members from local authorities in their region and other regional stakeholders. They have no responsibilities for allocating funds to bodies in their regions.
	In July 2005 the Government invited the regional bodies, the Government Offices, regional development agencies and the regional assemblies, to between them provide advice on regional funding allocations. Guidance on preparing advice issued at the time is available on the HM Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Consultations_and_Leg islation/devolvingdecision_making/regional_funding_alloc ations.cfm

Torbay Mayor

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister following the affirmative referendum on a Torbay mayor in September, what consultative and other processes were needed to implement the proposal; and how long after the referendum the post of mayor was established.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 29 November 2005
	Before holding a referendum on whether to have a directly elected mayor, a local authority is required to draw up and consult its electorate and other interested parties on proposals for its governance arrangements.
	The referendum on whether Torbay should have a directly elected mayor was held on 14 July 2005. Torbay implemented the proposals endorsed by that referendum result immediately following the mayoral election on 20 October 2005.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2063W, on council tax revaluation, whether the Valuation Office Agency continues (a) to collect and (b) to collate (i) dwelling house code data and (ii) value significant code data following the postponement of the English council tax revaluation.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2063W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

British Technology Group Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of the British Technology Group Act 1991.

Alan Johnson: The British Technology Group Act 1991 was a paving measure to provide for the privatisation in early 1992 of the British Technology Group, a body formed in 1981 by an amalgamation of two public bodies known as the National Research Development Corporation and the National Enterprise Board.
	Several of the provisions of the 1991 Act, including those dealing with the nomination of the new privatised company 1 and the arrangements whereby the Government would acquire a shareholding in that company 2 were repealed by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004. Also repealed were provisions for extinguishing certain outstanding reserves and liabilities of the two public bodies 3 , financial provisions relating to the new company 4 , a provision as to the status of shares in the new company for trustee investment purposes 5 and a provision relating to parliamentary scrutiny of orders made by the Secretary of State 6 .
	1 Section 1(2) and (5). In schedule 1, paragraph 1.
	2 Sections 3 to 7
	3 Section 2
	4 Sections 8 (2) in part; 8 (3) and 9
	5 Section 13
	6 Section 14 (2) (reference to the repealed order making power of Section 6)

Business Start-ups (Women)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to Phoenix funding on his target of 20 per cent. of business start-ups being undertaken by women by 2006, with particular reference to the Women's Employment, Enterprise and Training Unit in the Norwich North constituency.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is confident that the target of 20 per cent. of businesses being female owned by 2006 will be reached.
	The Phoenix Fund was introduced as a time-limited programme to help build good practice on business support for under-represented groups including women. The Small Business Service is working with the Regional Development Agencies to pull through this good practice to improve access to the full range of business support services for women.

Carbon Management Programme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, columns 5278W, on carbon management programme, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Carbon Trust's survey report.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI have made arrangements for the Carbon Trust report to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Climate Change

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the oral statement of the Energy Minister of 11 November 2005, column 621, on climate change, if he will make a statement on the 83.5 million for micro-generation installations since 2002; how this funding was split across the programmes run by his Department; when funding started under each programme; how much was granted under each micro-generation scheme for each year since their commencement; and how much funding granted under each micro-generation scheme is expected to be provided up to March 2007.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have committed the following funding to microgeneration installations since 2000:
	10 million since 2000 on the PV Field Trials
	31 million since 2002 on the Major Demonstration PV programme
	12.5 million since 2003 on Clear Skies programme
	30 million recently announced for the Low Carbon Buildings programme which is due to start in April 2006, subject to state aid clearance, 1.5 million of which has been brought forward to extend the Clear Skies and PV programmes.
	I regret that due to an administrative error, my statement on 11 November 2005 inadvertently referred to an incorrect date. Since 2000 the total committed to microgeneration installations was 83.5 million, as set out.

Coal Production

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on current coal production in the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Wicks: Coal production in the UK in the three months to September 2005, at 4.8 million tonnes, was 19.5 per cent. lower than in the corresponding period of 2004.
	Deep mined production was down 27.7 per cent. and opencast production was down 12.4 per cent.

Common Fund for Commodities

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting to discuss the Common Fund for Commodities.

Ian Pearson: The Governing Council of the Common Fund for Commodities met on 2930 November 2005 in Amsterdam. As well as a number of administrative and financial issues, the meeting also considered a report on the mid-term review of the Fund's five-year action plan 2003 to 2007.

Companies Act Regulations

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list meetings between his Department and the Treasury at which the decision to remove the obligation on businesses to publish operating and financial reviews was discussed.

Alun Michael: There are frequent meetings between DTI and the Treasury. Policy in relation to corporate governance and reporting frequently crops up directly or indirectly.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses while working for the Department and its agencies.

Alan Johnson: The Department fully supports the joint Management Consultancies Association (MCA), Institute of Management Consultancy (IMC) and Office of Government Commerce (OGC) statement of best practice document Delivering world-class consultancy services to the public sector. This document emphasises the working relationships that the public sector client and consultant will seek to achieve in the development and execution of a consultancy contract.
	The Department's standard Invitation to Tender (ITT) document requires potential consultants to provide documentary evidence of their proposed expenses, with which the Department must be satisfied prior to entering into contract. The Department's contract documentation stipulates that only travelling and other expenses that are properly and necessarily incurred in providing the services will be reimbursed.
	I have asked the Department's Executive Agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (1813/2005) asking what steps the Department takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses whilst working for the Department and its agencies.
	The Insolvency Service only allows for 'reasonable' expenses. Expenses submitted by consultants should generally be in line with amounts that we would pay our own staff in terms of travel and subsistence.
	Letter from Claire Clancy, dated 6 December 2005
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	When placing any contracts Companies House would include within the overall contract value details of allowable expenses. These would therefore be subject to the same value for money evaluation that is applied to the agreed daily rates.
	Letter from Dr. Jeff Llewellyn, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding what steps the Department takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses whilst working for the Department and its Agencies.
	NWML agrees fee rates, including expense rates, with consultants prior to commissioning work. All claims for payment, including expense claims, are checked for accuracy and reasonableness prior to payment.
	Letter from Jeanne Spinks, dated 6 December 2005
	House of Commons Parliamentary Question 2005/1813
	You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps the Department takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses whilst working for the Department and its agencies.
	The Employment Tribunals Service policy is that wherever possible consultancy services are provided through the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) approved Catalist arrangements. All the Service Providers under these arrangements are committed to a standard travel and subsistence policy, based on either OGC buying solutions rates for its public servants, or the individual customers rates.
	Letter from Ron Marchant, dated 6 December 2005
	House of Commons Parliamentary Question: 2005/1813
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 14 November 2005, regarding What steps the Department of Trade and Industry takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses whilst working for the Department and its agencies.
	All contracts issued to consultancies by the Patent Office have a clause in them specifying that reasonable or civil service level expenses only may be claimed. Any invoices submitted are checked by the contract manager and any claims considered to be excessive are disallowed.

Developing Countries (Trade)

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken to use the EU presidency to promote trade that will benefit developing countries.

Ian Pearson: The needs and interests of developing countries are at the heart of the current round of World Trade Organisation negotiations. The UK Government's priority for the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong is to secure to a package that is pro-development, helps build a more competitive European economy and allows a conclusion to the round by the end of 2006.
	As presidency, the UK supports the European Commission in its role as negotiator, and is working with member states to ensure a flexible EU position that will help progress negotiations in the run-up to, and at, Hong Kong.

Electricity Prices

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current price is of electricity per unit generated from (a) nuclear, (b) offshore wind, (c) onshore wind, (d) wave and (e) tidal energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The cost of producing electricity by generator class is a commercial matter for generating companies.

Electricity Prices

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the price is per unit of electricity generated from (a) gas-fired, (b) hydro and (c) coal-fired power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: The cost of producing electricity by generator class is a commercial matter for generating companies.

Energy Levy

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received, and from whom, regarding the introduction of a levy on energy bills to assist with the development of nuclear power generation; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 5 December 2005
	The Department has received no representations regarding a levy on energy bills to assist with nuclear power.

Energy Supplies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on carbon dioxide emissions of an increase in the use of gas and oil to supply energy demands.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the right hon. Member to our published projections, which can be found on the DTI website, at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep2004.pdf. (An addendum extending these projections to 2020 can also be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep_addendum.pdf.) It is intended that these estimates will be revised and published in due course.

Enterprise Grants

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small and medium-sized enterprises applied for a grant for research and development in 200405 in (a) the UK and (b) each region; how many applicants received funding; what the average value of a grant was; and what the total value of the funding allocated was.

Alun Michael: holding answer 5 December 2005
	DTI grant for research and development is available to businesses in England while the Devolved Administrations offer their own forms of support to businesses undertaking research and development projects.
	In 200405 grants for research and development worth a total of 30,401,452 were offered to 352 small and medium-sized businesses in England as shown on the following table:
	
		
			  Region Number of Applications Number of Grants Offered 
		
		
			 East 98 65 
			 East Midlands 102 22 
			 London 75 47 
			 North East 41 27 
			 North West 155 51 
			 South East 140 43 
			 South West 84 19 
			 West Midlands 52 29 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 154 49 
			 Total 901 352 
		
	
	The average level of grant support was 86,367.

Flexible Working Hours

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the willingness of employers to offer family-friendly working hours to male employees;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of male employees requesting family-friendly flexible working hours.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Second Work-Life Balance Study: Results from the Employers' Survey Main Report Working Employee Survey (published October 2003) shows that 86 per cent. of employers, with five or more employees, had some type of flexible working provision available to their staff. Employers were not asked whether these provisions were made available to both male and female staff.
	The Second Flexible Working Employee Survey (published April 2005) shows that over the past two years 10 per cent. of male employees have asked to work flexibly. 62 per cent. of these requests were fully accepted by employers, compared with 72 per cent. of requests from female employees. 43 per cent. of women, compared to 22 per cent. of men, cited childcare needs as the reason for requesting flexible working.

Fuel Poverty

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) households were in fuel poverty and (b) vulnerable households were in fuel poverty in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what proportion each represented of all households in (i) London and (ii) each London borough.

Malcolm Wicks: Figures for the number of households in fuel poverty in England are produced from analysis of the English House Condition Survey. From 2003, the survey is being carried out on a continuous rolling basis. Prior to 2001, however, this survey was conducted on a five-yearly basis. Hence, the number of households in fuel poverty is not available for all of the last five years. The figures for both all households and vulnerable households for 2001 and 2003 are available, with an estimate available for 2002, as detailed in the following table.
	
		Fuel poverty figures for England: 20012003
		
			 (millions) 
			  2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Number of households in fuel poverty 1.7 1.4 1.2 
			 Number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty 1.4 1.2 1.0 
		
	
	Due to the sample sizes involved it is not possible to break the vulnerable category down further by local area. Similarly, it is not possible to provide details for any of the London boroughs. However, analysis of actual data for the years when the EHCS was carried out for each of the nine Government offices for the regions shows that, for London, figures for 2001 and 2003 are as follows:
	
		Fuel poverty figures in the Government office for London region: 200103
		
			  2001 2003 
		
		
			 Number of households in fuel poverty 148,000 108,000 
			 Total number of households in region 2,993,000 3,011,000 
			 Percentage in fuel poverty 5.0 3.6

Independent Schools

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry if he will make a statement on the recent Office of Fair Trading report on independent schools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Office of Fair Trading is the United Kingdom's independent competition regulator. It has a duty to investigate and address anti-competitive conduct and enforce competition law. It has investigated the exchange of information between independent schools about the fees they charge. Its provisional findings are that fifty schools have breached chapter one of the Competition Act which prohibits anti-competitive agreements. This is a matter for the Office if Fair Trading. The Government have no substantive role in individual cases.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the IT projects costing over 1 million in use in his Department and introduced since 1997 have been scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee; and if he will list them.

Alan Johnson: The Public Accounts Committee has not scrutinised any of the Department's IT projects since 1997.

Low Carbon Building Programme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the latest position on obtaining EU approval for the Low Carbon Building Programme; and what the deadline is for submission of any future funding for approval by the EU under this scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Officials are currently preparing a submission to the EU for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme state aid approval. We aim to have this clearance in time to start the programme in April 2006. There is no deadline for any future funding.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many hearing loss claims have been (a) submitted and (b) settled for miners from the Bassetlaw constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Bassetlaw constituency, 1,603 hearing loss claims from miners have been registered of which 1,464 have been settled.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid in costs to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers for miners' hearing loss claims.

Alun Michael: The UDM has been paid 5.9 million in costs for handling 8859 settled miners' hearing loss claims.

Miners' Compensation

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for vibration white finger have been (a) processed and (b) settled in each year of the scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: The following table provides the number of vibration white finger claims registered and settled to date each year since 1995.
	
		
			  Registered Settled 
		
		
			 1995 1,202  
			 1996 8,524 204 
			 1997 9,300 1,117 
			 1998 12,068 2,335 
			 1999 23,631 6,313 
			 2000 60,297 8,741 
			 2001 18,311 14,218 
			 2002 33,490 19,266 
			 2003 2,694 27,662 
			 2004 71 18,088 
			 2005 23 14,819

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the issue of crossover of claims relating to different conditions to be resolved in relation to claims under the miners' compensation scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 5 December 2005
	Agreement in principle has been reached with the Claimant Solicitor Group (CSG) on how these claims should be processed. Revised examples of the complex calculation determining compensation were sent to the CSG on 14 November 2005. These incorporate all of the negotiated changes to the calculation. We await acceptance from the CSG. Once we have this, it will take 6 weeks to make the necessary system changes before offers can be made.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to recover from solicitors moneys paid from the public purse following the judicial ruling of October in the case of Walker v. UK Coal.

Malcolm Wicks: The judgement is currently being clarified and we are monitoring the position. If there have been any overpayments then action will be taken to recover them where the Department is so advised.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many hearing loss claims involving Vendside Ltd have been (a) registered and (b) paid out since the beginning of the summer parliamentary recess 2005.

Malcolm Wicks: 56 hearing loss claims have been received from Vendside Ltd since 22 November 2005. None of these claimants have received payment yet.

Multi-Fibre Agreement

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the ending of the Multi-Fibre Agreement on (a) Taiwan, (b) Mauritius and (c) Costa Rica; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The end of the MFA will bring significant benefits to the world economy over the longer term, but entail adjustment pressures for some producing countries. It is too early to assess the precise impact on individual economies.

National Minimum Wage

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2005, Official Report, column 296W, on the national minimum wage, whether the 1.3 million figure quoted for those benefiting from the increase in the minimum wage refers to (a) individuals and (b) jobs.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI estimated that 1.3 million individuals will be covered by the October 2005 uprating of the National Minimum Wage. This estimate was based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2004 taking into account earnings inflation from spring 2004 and October 2005.

Oil Stocks

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the EU to repeal the directives requiring member states to keep minimum oil stocks, as stated in COM (2005) 535.

Malcolm Wicks: Currently, there are seven directives relating to oil stocking. Later directives amend paragraphs from the earlier versions. The proposal set out in COM (2005) 535 is to simplify the legislation by recasting these seven directives into a single directive and says that it is the intention to do this at some stage in 2006. There is no intention or plan to reduce the level of EU emergency oil stocks.

Renewable Energy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to provide continuity of grant support to (a) schools and (b) other community renewable energy projects pending the launch of the new low carbon buildings programme in financial year 200607.

Malcolm Wicks: 1.5 million has been brought forward from the 30 million for the low carbon buildings programme to minimise any potential funding gap between the existing and new programme. The Department is also looking to work in partnership with major private sector players in the energy field in order to expand the micro generation sector, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy technologies on schools.

Renewable Energy

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide additional funds to enable (a) schools and (b) other community buildings to benefit from renewable energy technologies.

Malcolm Wicks: 1.5 million has been brought forward from the 30 million for the low carbon buildings programme to minimise any potential funding gap between the existing and new programmes. We will continue to support school and community buildings renewable projects under the new programme, which will start in April 2006, subject to EU state aids clearance. The Department is also looking to work in partnership with major private sector players in the energy field in order to expand the micro generation sector, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy technologies on schools.

Secondments

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in his Department are seconded from accountancy houses; and how many of his officials have worked on secondment to outside accountancy houses.

Alan Johnson: Departmental records show that DTI currently has nine people seconded from accountancy firms and three members of staff have worked on secondment to accountancy firms.

South West Regional Venture Capital Fund

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ventures have been backed by the South West Regional Venture Capital Fund; and what funds have been committed.

Alun Michael: The number of ventures backed by the fund is nine and in total 1.95 million has been committed.

Statutory Adoption Pay

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the impact of paying statutory adoption pay for 26 weeks at 106 per week and statutory maternity pay at six weeks at a level of 90 percent. followed by 20 weeks at 106 per week on (a) the number of people coming forward to be adopters and (b) the impact of adoption on families of a reduced income; what plans he has to review the levels of payment; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of adoptions of children from care increased by 38 percent. between 19992000 and 200405. In 20045 there were 3,800. Although assessing social workers do look into the income and money management skills of prospective adopters, they do not classify families on the basis of income and none of the statutory returns asks for this kind of information.
	Statutory adoption pay (SAP) was introduced in 2003 as a measure of income replacement to help adopters to take time off work when a child is placed with them. Since its introduction the standard rate of SAP has been the same as the standard rate of statutory maternity pay (SMP) and maternity allowance (MA). The Work and Families Bill will enable us to increase the payment period of both maternity and adoption pay from the current 26 weeks to 39 weeks from April 2007 with an ambition to increase to one year by the end of this parliament. It is also our ambition to increase the flat rate of SAP, SMP, MA and statutory paternity pay over time.
	SAP needs to be considered as part of the overall package of support for adoptive families. Adopters have a right to be assessed for financial support under the Adoption Support Services Regulations 2003 (which will be replaced on 30 December 2005 by the Adoption Support Services Regulations 2005). We have provided nearly 70 million of ring fenced grant to local authorities over the three year period 200304, 200405, 200506 to fund adoption support services and special guardianship support services. In addition, adoptive families will benefit from other support available to families, including working tax credit and child tax credit.

Tariffs

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what position he will be taking in the forthcoming Doha trade talks in Hong Kong on reducing agricultural tariffs.

Ian Pearson: The Government's long-term goal is to abolish progressively all barriers to agricultural trade in the forms of both tariffs and quotas. The Government aims to take an important step towards this goal through the Doha development agenda.
	The European Commission negotiates in the World Trade Organisation on behalf of the European Union's twenty-five member states, within the parameters of a negotiating mandate laid out in a succession of council conclusions. The current EU offer on agriculture, representing an average tariff reduction of 38.9 percent., is close to the edge of the mandate.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the timetable is for the implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive; and what progress has been made to date on implementation.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government intend to make a policy announcement shortly on the implementation of this EU waste electrical and electronic equipment directive, including the timing of the WEEE regulations. The Government have been working towards practical implementation arrangements for the UK in extensive discussions with stakeholders. The Department has conducted three policy consultations in preparation of these regulations and development of the practical implementation arrangements. It has also consulted on proposals for cost recovery fees to cover the environment agencies' planned roles in relation to the registration of producers and monitoring of obligations, primarily producers' obligations, under the WEEE regulations. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Northern Ireland Office have conducted separate consultations on draft regulations to implement the directive's requirements for the permitting of WEEE treatment facilities. The Environment Agencies have jointly consulted on draft technical guidance for the treatment of WEEE.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) (i) retailers and (ii) producers of electrical goods, (b) trade bodies and (c) associated organisations which the Department consulted during the (A) drafting and (B) implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has been in contact with the main affected sectors of business and other stakeholders both throughout the negotiation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive and since it was agreed and published in February 2003. Since the publication of the directive, the Department has conducted four public consultations in relation to its transposition and implementation, in March 2003, in November 2003, in July 2004 and in May 2005. There were 316 responses to the DTI's first consultation; 219 to the second; 225 to the third and 50 to the fourth. The lists of respondents to the first three consultations have been published on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/weee/ A summary of responses to the fourth consultation will be published on the website shortly.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive does not have an adverse impact on manufacturers of electrical goods and equipment, with particular reference to (a) profitability and (b) competitiveness.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are committed to achieving an implementation of the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive which delivers its environmental objectives whilst safeguarding the competitiveness of UK manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment which falls within its scope.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department plans to meet retailers and producers of electrical goods and equipment to discuss their concerns over the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has had intensive discussions with retailers and producers over the arrangements for the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. It expects to continue these.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated recycling cost per electrical item is under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has not published an estimated recycling cost per item. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive covers a wide range of electrical and electronic equipment, which is highly diverse in nature and composition.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to ensure that the cost of recycling items under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is transparent to (a) businesses and (b) consumers.

Malcolm Wicks: The costs of recycling waste electrical and equipment will be a matter for producers in the contractual arrangements they make with operators of recycling and other recovery processes on a commercial basis. The Government will implement the provisions of article 8 of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive which provides that the costs of recycling of old waste equipment from private households may be shown to consumers at the point of sale for a transitional period after the directive's implementation.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's estimate is of the tonnage of waste electrical and electronic equipment goods which will be processed in each of the next five years; and what tonnage he estimates will be goods manufactured by companies that are no longer in business.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has assumed, in its partial regulatory impact assessments for the UK implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (which may be viewed on the Department's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/weee/), that total arisings of waste equipment (WEEE) from UK private households will be in the region of 1 million tonnes in 2006, according to the estimates published by the Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER); and that the volume of WEEE arisings in the UK will rise by 4 per cent. each subsequent year, based on estimates in the European Commission's Explanatory Memorandum to the Directive. It is not know what proportion of this WEEE will result from equipment put onto the UK market by companies which have gone out of business.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry what steps he will take to ensure that manufacturers of electrical goods and equipment will be allocated waste electrical and electronic equipment directive responsibilities on a fair and equitable basis.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department will be making an announcement shortly on the plans for the UK implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK waste electrical and electronic equipment goods which will be recycled in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) other EU states and (c) elsewhere over each of the next five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The waste electrical and electronic equipment directive requires target levels of recycling to be achieved, which vary according to the different categories of waste equipment. The Department's partial Regulatory Impact Assessments for the UK implementation of the Directive, which may be viewed on the Department's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability/weee/, take account of these targets. The Directive is to be reviewed in 2008 and its requirements, including the targets, are expected to be revised as a result.
	The Department has made no estimates of levels of recycling in other member states; or for other countries outside the EU.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to ensure that civic amenity sites are able to collect and separate waste electrical and electronic equipment for collection and transportation to recycling facilities.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are facilitating the development of a retail compliance scheme, which, subject to Government approval, will offer funding to local authorities to upgrade their civic amenity sites to provide facilities for the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment separately from the rest of the municipal waste stream.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure manufacturers have proper access to civic amenity sites and designated collection facilities to enable them to fulfil their recycling obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has facilitated discussions between representatives of local authorities and producers of a code of practice between site operators and producers collecting from the designated collection facilities for household WEEE.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken by his Department to inform consumers of the new recycling arrangements for waste electrical goods under the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department expects that retailers will have obligations under the intended WEEE implementing regulations to inform consumers about the separate collection of WEEE for subsequent treatment and recycling; including about the local collection facilities and services available to them.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive's provision that manufacturers of electrical goods and equipment may make the cost of recycling historic equipment visible to the consumer is not being permitted in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government intend to implement the directive's provisions that producers may show, for a transitional period, the costs of recycling 'historical' waste electrical goods and equipment from private households to consumers at the point of sale of new equipment.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether steps are being taken by the Government to prevent profit-taking by third parties with no obligations under the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government expect to implement the obligations under the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive on a basis which allows producers to procure treatment and recycling services for the waste equipment for which they have responsibility on a commercially contracted basis.

Wave Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent in each year from 1980 to date on the research and development of wavepower; and what further sums are planned to be spent.

Malcolm Wicks: Spend on wave research under the Technology programme (and predecessors ) is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 198081 3,039,964 
			 198182 3,947,412 
			 198283 2,819,624 
			 198384 715,109 
			 198485 430,823 
			 198586 264,109 
			 198687 70,071 
			 198788 180,170 
			 198889 142,872 
			 198990 137,043 
			 199091 387,555 
			 199192 467,100 
			 199293 324,649 
			 199394 195,693 
			 199495 105,561 
			 199596 42,441 
			 199697 49,751 
			 199798  
			 199899 91,000 
			 19992000 10,754 
			 200001 332,488 
			 200102 661,900 
			 200203 748,335 
			 200304 2,104,141 
			 200405 334,651 
			 200506 (to date) 130,752 
		
	
	Future funding under the Technology programme will be dependent on the quality and quantity of proposals submitted to the programme. Projects already approved already give rise to the following spend projections.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200506(11) 644,000 
			 200607 995,000 
			 200708 764,000 
			 200809 318,000 
		
	
	(11) Total spend
	Research Council expenditure (rounded to the nearest '000) is as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199798 0 
			 199899 157,000 
			 19992000 175,000 
			 200001 301,000 
			 200102 606,000 
			 200203 617,000 
			 200304 830,000 
			 200405 1,050,000 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures dating back to 1980 could not be provided without disproportionate cost.
	Under the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's Supergen programme, 2.6 million was awarded to the Marine Energy Research Consortium. The award, which commenced in October 2003 for four years, will fund research into marine renewable energy conversion and delivery. The Research Councils also support energy research, including aspects of marine and tidal power, through the work of the UK Energy Research Centre, which has funds of 13 million for 200409. No firm plans exist at present for additional managed activity in this area, so in the near future Research Council investments will depend on the quality of bids through responsive mode; although EPSRC will consider the potential renewal of the Supergen Marine Consortium at the relevant time.
	In addition the Government have put in place the 50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund that will support the continued development of the marine renewables sector. At the core of those proposals is a 42 million wave and tidal stream energy demonstration scheme.

Work and Families Bill

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department received from small business organisations concerning the effects of the Work and Families Bill.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 December 2005
	We received over 200 formal responses to the Work and families: choice and flexibility consultation, which preceded the Work and Families Bill. Around a third of these were from individual employers and 18 of these were from small employers. In addition 26 employer groups, many of which represent small employers, responded. These include the Federation of Small Business, the Forum of Private Business and the Small Business Council.
	A summary of the responses is available in Annex A of the Government Response to the consultation, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House. The individual responses are available on the Work and Families page of the DTI website.
	Over 20 meetings were held during the consultation period with small business and their representatives, including a focus group.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academy Schools

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pay level is of the head of each established academy school; and what the average pay for heads in the public sector is.

Jacqui Smith: No reliable figures are held with respect to the pay level of head teachers in academy schools.
	In March 2004, the latest information available, it is provisionally estimated that the average salary of full-time head teachers in maintained secondary schools was 60,330. The average salary for all head teachers in the maintained sector was 46,890.

Adult Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to increase adult education funding in Essex to its highest historical real terms level.

Bill Rammell: On the 21 October, I wrote to all MPs setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. The purpose of the announcement was to ensure the 2006/07 funding allocations process began with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin funding over the next two years. While total funding going into the learning and skills sector will increase over the next two years there is a need to rebalance spending toward priority areas which include helping disadvantaged adults gain basic and Level 2 skills for employability and progression to Level 3.
	We are also maintaining the value of Government funding for personal and community development learning through a specific safeguard of 210 million in 2006/07.
	Funding allocations for adult education providers in Essex will reflect these priorities that build upon our funding investment across the whole lifelong learning and skills sector, which has seen Government funding for; FE, work based training for young people, adult skills and lifelong learning increase by more than 4 billion since 1997-equivalent to over 60 percent. in real terms.

Adult Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what average percentage of their fees was paid by adult education students in each of the last five years; and what the estimate is of fees they will pay in (a) 200506 and (b) 200607.

Bill Rammell: On the 21 October 2005, we made an announcement, setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. Our main purpose for doing so was to ensure the 2006/07 funding allocations process began with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin funding over the next two years. This follows record investment in Further Education; since 1997 total Government funding has risen by around 48 per cent. in real terms.
	The Skills Strategy White Paper set out a vision for transforming the way in which the Learning and Skills Sector can support higher national investment in skills, which included a rebalancing of responsibilities so that the state, employers and individuals all contribute to the costs of their learning in line with the benefits they each receive. These funding principles do not affect the existing arrangements whereby my Department funds free tuition for all young people; those taking literacy and numeracy or aiming for their first full level 2; and learners receiving income based benefits, the pension (guarantee) credit and those on higher levels of the working tax credit.
	In the last five years adult learners in Further Education (FE) were assumed to contribute 25 per cent. of the basic course cost of their learning unless fees were remitted because of the reasons stated above. This proportion increased to 27.5 per cent. in 2005/06 and will rise again to 32.5 per cent. in 2006/07 and 37.5 per cent. in 2007/08. In average terms this means a rise from an hourly rate of 1.42 to 1.94 by 2007/08.
	The responsibility for setting and collecting fees rests with the college. However, we know that historically many FE providers choose to waive the fees for some of these 'fee-paying' learners:
	In 2003/04, FE providers collected 152 million out of an 'expected' 261 million
	In 2004/05, 159 million was collected out of an 'expected' 277 million.
	In order to increase the levels of fees collected, from 2005/06 the LSC agreed a fee income measure with each FE funded provider. To assist providers in developing a strategic approach to fees policy, the LSC published a good practice guide to fee income earlier this year.
	Clearly with the increase in fee assumption, it will be important that FE providers recover as much money as possible from learners as employers.

Alcohol Education

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether there are plans to increase alcohol education in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The statutory National Curriculum Science Order requires that all pupils should learn about the effects of alcohol and other drugs. In addition, schools are expected to use the non-statutory frameworks for Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship at key stages 1 and 2, PSHE at key stages 3 and 4 and the Citizenship programme of study at key stages 3 and 4 as the context for developing drug and alcohol education further. It is for schools to decide how much curriculum time is necessary to meet these requirements.
	We are supporting schools to deliver better alcohol education. In 2004, we issued all schools with new guidance on all aspects of drug education, including alcohol. We have invested in the development of the PSHE certificate for teachers which supports standards in the teaching of PSHE, including alcohol education. We have made up to 2,000 places available in both 200405 and 200506.
	Together with the Home Office and Department of Health, we are supporting a national five year research programme called Blueprint to test the effectiveness of drug education initiatives in schools. It will make a significant contribution to developing a UK evidence base for drug, alcohol and tobacco education.

AS-levels

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for AS-level examinations; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: AS level examinations will continue to make up 50 per cent. of an A level. It will also continue to be certificated as a qualification in its own right.

Bullying

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial commitment her Department plans to make to combat bullying in schools in the next 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: Funding for anti-bullying work during the financial year 2005/06 is 1,145,000. Work during this period includes conferences and events to disseminate good practice, alongside the development of guidance and resources for schools.
	This amount also includes funding for external organisations to undertake specific projects:
	600,000 has been provided to the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) to sustain the momentum for change generated by the Make The Difference Conference series;
	The Department has provided 200,000 to Parentline Plus to support their helpline for parents on anti-bullying issues.
	Funding for CHIPS (ChildLine in Partnership with Schools) is 200,000. The CHIPS scheme encourages young people to set up programmes, with the help of ChildLine and their teachers, to support their peers and to create safe environments in which to learn.
	The Department has also shown its continuing support for the Diana Memorial Award for anti-bullying, by contributing 50,000 of funding. The award highlights the achievements of young people trying to tackle bullying in their school or community.
	Funding for anti-bullying work during 2006/07 is yet to be agreed.

Bullying

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department issues to schools to encourage children to report acts of bullying.

Jacqui Smith: We attach a high priority to encouraging pupils to report bullying, and to supporting schools to encourage their pupils to do so.
	A key message of our guidance pack for schools, Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence, is that children should report bullying to someone they trust. The pack also provides information on monitoring bullying through the use of school surveys drawn up with the help of pupils.
	We have created anti-bullying postcards and posters in a variety of community languages to help pupils, especially newly arrived pupils, to report acts of bullying. These have been made available to schools through conferences and can be downloaded from the DfES website.
	The anti-bullying Charter for Action, which was re-issued to each school in November 2005, includes suggestions for safe and effective reporting of bullying.
	Information is made available directly to children through our public information films. 'Tell Someone' encourages children who are being bullied to tell someone, and not suffer in silence. The film 'I Am' uses celebrities to show young people that they are not alone if they are being bullied, and should tell someone. We have encouraged schools to use these films.

Education Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the operation of section 43 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

Bill Rammell: We remain committed to the principles of freedom of expression and thought in universities and colleges as they are essential to modern democracy. The principles underpinning these are encapsulated in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights as well as legislation more specific to particular education sectors. However, such freedoms also bring responsibilities, and we have to balance freedom of speech with the need to protect national security and the rights of citizens not to be put at risk from criminal and violent acts. We therefore continue to look to universities and colleges to uphold the safeguards for freedom of speech set out in legislation, and to take such action as they see fit to allow their students and staff to operate in safety on campus.

Education Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) charged and (ii) convicted of offences under section 466 of the Education Act 1996 in (A) Essex and (B) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the operation of sections (a) 464, (b) 465 and (c) 466 of the Education Act 1996.

Jacqui Smith: Sections 464, 465 and 466 of the Education Act 1996 have been replaced by sections 158, 159 and 160 of the Education Act 2002. The main difference between the 1996 and 2002 provisions is that independent schools may no longer open unless they meet minimum standards which are set out in regulations made under the Education Act 2002.
	Any proprietor who operates an unregistered school is doing so illegally and could face prosecution under section 159 of the 2002 Act, formerly section 466 of the 1996 Act. In the last 10 years there have been no prosecutions under section 466 of the Education Act 1996 or section 159 of the Education Act 2002.

Education Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the operation of sections (a) 7, (b) 8 and (c) 9 of the Education Act 1996.

Jacqui Smith: This Government are committed to improving levels of attendance at school. Figures published in September for 2004/05 show that the level of absences from school have fallen for the fourth consecutive years to a record low level. The equivalent of 12,500 more pupils are in school each day on average in 2004/05 than in 2003/04. There are 50,000 more pupils in school each day on average than would be the case if absence rates were still at 1996/97 levels.
	This Government believe that, for most children, school is the right place in which to receive education. However, we respect parents' fundamental right, under section 7 of the Education Act 1996, to educate their children at home if they so wish. Where that happens, the parents must take responsibility for ensuring that the education provided is suitable and, for children of compulsory school age, is full-time. We have no plans to change this right.
	We have no current plans to amend section 8 of the 1996 Education Act which sets out when a person is of compulsory school age.
	Section 9 sets out the general principle that pupils are to be educated in accordance with their parents' wishes. The courts have ruled that, while local authorities must have regard to the general principle that pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents ... ... ., that this is subject to other considerations, and that there are many things to which the education authority may have regard and which may outweigh the wishes of (particular) parents'.
	How this operates in relation to school admissions is that section 86 of the school Standards and Framework Act 1998 gives parents a right to express a preference for the school they want their child to attend, and to give their reasons for that preference. If a school is oversubscribed, then the school's published admission arrangements (or 'oversubscription criteria') are applied to determine which applicants should be offered the available places. Those who are unsuccessful have a statutory right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.

Education (Southend-on-Sea)

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of pupils in Southend-on-Sea achieved level 4 or above in 2005 in (a) English and (b) Mathematics at key stage 2;
	(2)  what percentage of pupils in Southend-on-Sea achieved level 5 or above in 2005 in (a) English and (b) mathematics at key stage 3.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the attainment of pupils in the 2005 key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests are published on the Department's research and statistics website in two Statistical First Releases (SFR). Figures for key stage 2 are available at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000618/index.shtml. Figures for key stage 3 are available at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsqateway/DB/SFR/s000599/index.shtml.

Education (Southend-on-Sea)

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in Southend-on-Sea achieved five or more A*-C grades at GCSE in 2005.

Jacqui Smith: 1,229 pupils in Southend-on-Sea local authority achieved the level 2 threshold (the equivalent of five or more grades A*-C) in GCSE and equivalent qualifications in 2005 out of a total of 2,014 pupils, i.e. 61.0 per cent.
	Notes:
	1. These figures are provisional, and may be subject to change.
	2. The coverage of these local authority level figures is maintained mainstream and maintained special schools only; including city technology colleges and academies but excluding hospital schools and pupil referral units where these occur within the local authority.
	3. These figures relate to pupils at the end of key stage 4 in the 2004/05 academic year.
	4. Figures include achievements of pupils in previous academic years.
	5. These figures are adjusted for pupils recently arrived from overseas.

Education Funding

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her most recent estimate is of how much money is spent per child each year in (a) state schools, (b) private schools and (c) special schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not split its unit costs into (a) state schools, (b) private schools and (c) special schools. However, the available information for local authority maintained schools for 200304 is given in the following table.
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Primary 2,750 
			 Secondary 3,550 
			 Special schools 14,050 
		
	
	My Department does not collect information on the money spent per child at private schools.
	Notes:
	1. The information was taken from section 52 outturn statements for 200304, as reported by LEAs.
	2. School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by local authority maintained schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates.
	3. In addition to any school based expenditure, combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil also includes all elements of related central local authority expenditure and was 3,890 per pupil in England in 200304. It is not possible to disaggregate this figure into mainstream and special school costs and consequently this figure includes all expenditure on the education of children in local authority maintained establishments and any expenditure on pupils educated by the authority other than in maintained establishments.

Education Funding

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per pupil funding was in 200405 in (a) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (b) England.

Jacqui Smith: Total funding per pupil aged three-19 years (cash terms) for 200405 was 3,670 for East Riding of Yorkshire, and 4,030 for England.
	Between 199798 and 200405, funding per pupil in East Riding increased by 34.3 percent. in real terms, compared with the England average of 34.4 percent. over the same period.
	Notes:
	Price baseCash and real terms at 200405 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 28 September 2005.
	Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education formula spending settlements. The cash figures include the pensions transfers to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council from 200304. The real terms series, and the increase quoted, exclude this transfer so that all years are comparable.
	Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three-19 years and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and education grants not allocated at an authority level.
	The pupil numbers used to convert  million figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three year-old maintained pupils and estimated 34 year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	RoundingFigures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Status200405 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Education Funding

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what response she has made to the representations made by the F40 group of local authorities on school funding.

Jacqui Smith: I met representatives of the F40 group of authorities in June 2005 and listened to their presentation about the funding model which the group supports, and subsequently wrote to the group's chair following my statement to the House of 21 July 2005 about the new school funding arrangements to be introduced from April 2006. My department has recently replied to the group's request for a further meeting about the funding model, indicating that officials will be happy to meet representatives of the group as part of the longer term review of the school funding arrangements announced in my statement of 21 July. We will announce in the new year the terms of reference for the review and our detailed proposals for engagement with individual local authorities, their representative organisations and special interest groups, including the F40 group, and with other key stakeholders.

Education Funding

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2005, Official Report, column 389W, on education funding, if she will make a statement on the benefits to private sector sponsors of contributing to academy start up costs; and when she expects those benefits to accrue.

Jacqui Smith: Sponsoring an academy is an act of philanthropic giving. Sponsors contribute up to 10 per cent. of the capital costs of a new academy (to a maximum of 2 million), but their contribution is not just financial. More importantly they bring an experience of success, a personal commitment, energy, drive and ambition, as well as a whole new set of skills and experience. The 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers evaluation found strong confidence in the role of sponsors, with 78 per cent. of staff surveyed in academies agreeing that the sponsor brings expertise that would not otherwise be available to the academy, and 82 per cent. of staff agreeing that the sponsor's resources had a positive impact on pupils' learning.
	The benefit that sponsors derive from their involvement in the programme is entirely personal and generally motivated by a desire to give something back to the community or from a sense of corporate responsibility.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in each local authority are in receipt of the education maintenance allowance for 200506.

Phil Hope: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Failing Authorities

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the date of (a) inspection, (b) report and (c) receipt of action plan by her Department for each local education authority found to be failing by Ofsted in 200405; what the date was of second (i) inspection, (ii) report and (iii) receipt of action plan by her Department in each case; and what the date was of subsequent milestone events.

Jacqui Smith: Ofsted inspections since April 2004 have found the overall efficiency of two local education authorities to be unsatisfactory. An action plan from Torbay council received in December 2004 responded to Ofsted's September 2004 report of its May 2004 inspection. An action plan from North East Lincolnshire received in April 2005 responded to Ofsted's December 2004 report of its October 2004 inspection. Both authorities' education services will be inspected in 200607, in joint area reviews of children's services carried out by Ofsted with other inspectorates and commissions.
	The Department issued a direction to North East Lincolnshire council on 1 June 2005, under the Education Act 1996, to contract with North East Lincolnshire Children First to provide assistance to the council in the delivery of its children's services. The first annual performance assessments of children's services, issued by Ofsted and the Commission for Social Care Inspection on 1 December 2005, judged North East Lincolnshire's education services to remain below minimum requirements, but its children's services, including education, to have good capacity to improve. Torbay's education services were found to meet minimum requirements, and children's services to have good capacity to improve.

Geography Focus Group

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2005, Official Report, column 1265W, on geography, whether she has received the report from the Geography Focus Group.

Jacqui Smith: The Geography Focus Group discussed their findings with Lord Adonis on 9 November, and put forward broad recommendations to improve the teaching and learning of geography. The Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association, who lead the focus group are now developing more detailed proposals.

Higher Education

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to ensure that the removal of the right to appeal of international students who apply for initial entry clearance will not disadvantage UK universities when competing in the overseas market of the UK higher education sector.

Bill Rammell: We are determined to ensure that UK universities remain attractive study destinations for international students. The current process of submitting an appeal and hearing a decision is bureaucratic and time-consuming and can sometimes drag on beyond the start date of a student's course. Under the new system, students who are refused a visa will be able to re-apply with the benefit of guidance and advice. This will be much faster and easier than at present.
	In addition, the Home Office and UKvisas are working together to make sure that the quality of initial decision making on visa applications is of a high standard. UKvisas are enhancing the role of the Independent Monitor to review the standard of decision making on visas, improving the training for entry clearance officers, and are recruiting a network of regional managers to spread good practice.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the (a) total and (b) net cost of (i) integrating the proposed identity card scheme into her Department's IT systems and (ii) the ongoing operation of the scheme within her Department.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills has, in consultation with the Identity Cards Programme, developed its current best estimate of the cost of using the ID Cards Scheme to support the services which it oversees and these costs have been incorporated into the business case. The Department is represented on the Ministerial Committee on Identity Cards which oversees the work on benefits planning and realisation.
	In deriving these estimates account has to be taken of the types of use required to support the particular services which this Department oversees. Not all services will require a high degree of integration between the ID Cards Scheme and other IT systems. Where there may be a need for integration, some costs can be absorbed into the usual cycles of system upgrades and technology refreshes.
	We cannot release the detailed estimated costs for integrating IT systems and the ongoing operation of the Identity Cards Scheme within the Department and the services which it oversees at this stage as these elements may be acquired from the market. The estimates are therefore commercially sensitive and to release them may prejudice the procurement process and the Department's ability to obtain value for money from potential suppliers.

Learning and Skills Council

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been allocated to 14to 19 skills and quality reform by the Learning and Skills Council in (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) through an annual Grant Letter that sets out the Government's key priorities for the LSC.
	The following table sets out the information requested, as allocated to the LSC for 200607 and 200708 as part of the 200607 Grant Letter issued on 31 October 2005. Allocations for 200506 were included in the LSC document Priorities for Success October 2005.
	
		000
		
			  Latest allocations Planned expenditure 
			  200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 1419 Reform 128.248 98,250 101,950 
			 Adult Skills Reform 166,825 202,977 214,276 
			 Quality Reform 152,476 128,565 124,399 
			 1419, Skills and Quality Reform Total 447,549 429,792 440,625

Learning and Skills Council

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her most recent grant letter to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in which funding blocks A to E replace the previous five funding blocks set out in the grant letter; and if she will break down the LSC budgets proposed in November 2004 by the same categories used for this year's budget.

Bill Rammell: The information requested on the LSC budgets proposed in the November 2004 grant letter, by the categories used in the 200607 grant letter which was issued on 30 October 2005 are as follows:
	
		15 November 2004 grant letter
		
			  million 
			  200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 Learning participation 6,696.4 6,840.5 7,123.8 
			 School sixth forms 1,784.4 1,828.9 1,906.4 
			 Local intervention and development 195.5 195.5 195.5 
			 Capital 399.8 474.8 595.8 
			 Administration 245.9 248.2 235.4 
			 Total 9,322.0 9,587.9 10,056.9 
		
	
	
		Presented in 30 October 2005 grant letter format
		
			  million 
			  200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 A. Participation 8,062.5 8,257.0 8,616.5 
			 B. Learner support and development 613.8 607.9 609.1 
			 C. LSC capital 399.8 474.8 595.8 
			 D. Administration 245.9 248.2 235.4 
			 E. AME expenditure 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Total 9,322.0 9,587.9 10,056.9 
		
	
	The figures from the November 2004 grant letter have been overtaken by the inclusion of the education maintenance allowance (Block EAME Expenditure) and a range of additional resource transfers to the LSC. Revised figures as in the 200607 grant letter, issued on 30 October, are shown in the following table.
	
		 million
		
			  200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 A. Participation 8,267.6 8,521.5 8,884.5 
			 B. Learner support and development 817.5 704.8 728.0 
			 C. LSC capital 393.8 468.8 595.8 
			 D. Administration 254.8 252.2 239.5 
			 E. AME expenditure 403.0 511.0 529.0 
			 Total 10,136.7 10,458.3 10,976.8 
		
	
	The following table breaks down the learner support and development figures at Block B aforementioned.
	
		
			 million 
		
		
			 B. Learner support and development 200506 200607 200708 
			 Learner support funds 122 125 130 
			 Other financial support 71 75 81 
			 1419, Skills and quality reform 460 430 441 
			 Capacity and infrastructure 166 77 79 
			 Total(12) 819 707 731 
		
	
	(12) Final total do not agree with the aforementioned table because of roundings.
	The aforementioned table excludes AME expenditure (education maintenance allowance) which is a separate line (Block E) in the grant letter.

Learning and Skills Council

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 599W, on the Learning and Skills Council, what the amount of funding was from each source referred to in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and why this funding is delivered via the Learning and Skills Council.

Bill Rammell: Further education colleges and other providers responsible for the delivery of post-16 learning opportunities offer a wide range of provision that is fully funded by the LSC.
	They also offer provision where funding does not come from the LSC but comes directly from a range of sources including those in my earlier reply to the hon. Gentleman. The following table shows the volume of funding from each source for provision that is delivered by colleges but not funded by the LSC for the academic year 2004/05. Most of this funding is provided directly to providers by these organisations, or generated directly by the providers themselves, without reference to the LSC.
	
		
			 2004/05(13)  millions 
		
		
			 Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) 233.6 
			 Tuition fees 328.9 
			 Employer fees and contracts 77.4 
			 Local education authority and schools 49.4 
			 New deal 16.1 
			 University for industry (UFI) 9.3 
			 Other education contracts 144.6 
			 Research grants 73.5 
			 Catering, residences and conferences 97.7 
			 Farming 11.8 
			 Other income generating 104.4 
			 Miscellaneous 140.9 
			 Investment income and interest 38.0 
			 Total 1,325.6 
		
	
	(13) Note that data for seven colleges (less than 2 percent.) have not yet been received, and these figures will be subject to audit by the colleges' financial statement auditors. Some change should therefore be expected

Literacy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) each London borough and (e) England she estimates were illiterate (i) at the last date for which figures are available and (ii) in each year since 2000.

Bill Rammell: The Skills for Life Survey: A national needs and impact survey of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills (DfES, October 2003) provides the latest estimates of literacy levels across England. The survey assessed the literacy, numeracy and ICT skills of around 8,000 adults aged 16 and above in England. The estimates are available to individual education authority area; however they are only available for 2003 and not every year since 2000.
	The survey findings are shown in the tables following for the regions requested. The assessment levels correspond to the literacy and numeracy National Standards: these were introduced in 2002 to provide a framework for all adult screening tests, diagnostic tools, programmes of study and qualifications. Learners are assessed for levels of literacy from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. Level 2 is broadly equivalent to a higher grade GCSE (A*-C).'
	
		(a) Southend-on-Sea
		
			 Overall literacy 
			  16 to 65-year-olds 
			  Percentage Number 
		
		
			 All entry level or below 11 11,070 
			 Level 1 43 41,400 
			 Level 2 or above 46 44,410 
			  100 85,920 
		
	
	Source:
	For population figures: Census 01 Skills for Life survey, 2003
	
		(b) Essex
		
			 Overall literacy 
			  16 to 65-year-olds 
			  Percentage Number 
		
		
			 All entry level or below 10 105,600 
			 Level 1 41 414,700 
			 Level 2 or above 49 490,900 
			  100 1,011,200 
		
	
	Source:
	For population figures: Census 01 Skills for Life survey, 2003
	
		(c) Hertfordshire
		
			 Overall literacy 
			  16 to 65 year olds 
			  Percentage Number 
		
		
			 All entry level or below 7 42,750 
			 Level 1 43 281,800 
			 Level 2 or above 50 330,900 
			  100 655,450 
		
	
	Source:
	For population figures: Census 01 Skills for Life survey, 2003
	
		(d) London
		
			 Overall Literacy 
			  All entry level or below Level 1 Level 2 or above 
			  16 to 65-year-olds 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 19,340 19 47,690 47 33,800 34 
			 Barnet 20,670 10 83,250 41 99,720 49 
			 Bexley 8,695 6 71,530 52 57,550 42 
			 Brent 34,400 19 62,360 35 82,950 46 
			 Bromley 20,500 11 60,000 32 105,500 57 
			 Camden 9,210 7 47,490 35 78,960 58 
			 City of London 215 4 1,560 30 3,495 66 
			 Croydon 27,500 13 96,410 45 90,290 42 
			 Ealing 26,980 13 86,730 42 91,420 45 
			 Enfield 26,500 15 75,510 43 74,310 42 
			 Greenwich 22,380 16 61,070 44 54,950 40 
			 Hackney 24,520 18 46,430 34 64,410 48 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7,515 6 43,100 36 68,440 57 
			 Haringey 26,620 18 49,230 33 73,470 49 
			 Harrow 17,440 13 53,390 40 63,680 47 
			 Havering 12,730 9 61,330 44 65,670 47 
			 Hillingdon 22,870 15 55,600 36 76,080 49 
			 Hounslow 21,400 15 58,430 41 63,380 44 
			 Islington 9,395 8 48,720 40 64,290 53 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,620 5 34,920 31 71,580 64 
			 Kingston upon Thames 8,940 9 31,320 32 57,090 59 
			 Lambeth 22,200 12 70,250 37 95,940 51 
			 Lewisham 25,440 15 60,160 36 81,900 49 
			 Merton 11,870 9 51,700 41 63,190 50 
			 Newham 59,900 38 44,170 28 53,330 34 
			 Redbridge 23,750 16 63,720 42 65,550 43 
			 Richmond upon Thames 8,990 8 31,210 27 74,420 65 
			 Southwark 30,740 19 57,010 34 77,500 47 
			 Sutton 14,100 12 39,350 34 61,880 54 
			 Tower Hamlets 24,240 18 48,300 37 58,680 45 
			 Waltham Forest 22,690 16 66,510 46 55,920 39 
			 Wandsworth 10,860 6 58,730 31 118,000 63 
			 Westminster 12,290 10 41,060 32 75,440 59 
			 London 925,975 19 1,640,600 34 2,204,970 46 
		
	
	
		(e) England
		
			 Overall Literacy 
			  16 to 65-year-olds 
			  Percentage Number (million) 
		
		
			 All Entry level or below 16 5.2 
			 Level 1 40 12.6 
			 Level 2 or above 44 14.1 
			  100 31.9 
		
	
	Source:
	For population figures: Census 01 Skills for Life survey, 2003
	A copy of the survey report is in the House of Commons Library and on the DfES website: www.dfes.gov.uk

Oral Hygiene (Children)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if the Government will fund the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste to Sure Start nurseries in deprived areas;
	(2)  if the Government will support the Stop-the-Rot campaign to encourage nurseries to help prevent tooth decay in small children.

Beverley Hughes: Many Sure Start settings offer a diverse range of activities to improve oral health in very young children, for example, by issuing free toothbrushes and toothpaste packs to families, free information leaflets and advice sessions. This is in addition to the Department of Health's pilot scheme 'Brushing for Life ' where Health Visitors are giving free packs containing a tube of fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes and a leaflet on oral hygiene to families with children aged eight and 18 months living in areas with the highest level of tooth decay and in areas served by a Sure Start Local Programme where fluoride is not added to the water supply.
	The pilot scheme has been the subject of a positive evaluation and, when the pilot concludes, primary care trusts wishing to participate in the scheme will be able to
	order packs through the NHS purchasing and supply authority's catalogue.
	The Stop-the-Rot scheme and associated website was publicised in the November edition of Sure Start News which is a regular newsletter e-mailed to all Sure Start settings and other early years providers.

Oral Hygiene (Children)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage primary school children to brush their teeth at lunchtime.

Jacqui Smith: Promoting oral hygiene in children is a responsibility for the Department of Health, with whom we liaise and seek advice from in health matters. The Department of Health has not recommended that it is necessary for primary schools to encourage all pupils to clean their teeth at lunch.

Middle Schools

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities operate a middle school system; how many middle schools there are; and which of these are for children aged nine to 13 years.

Jacqui Smith: As at January 2005 there were 24 local authorities in England that had a total of 367 middle schools, 235 of which were for children aged 9 to 13. The table lists the 24 local authorities and details of numbers of schools for each.
	
		Maintained primary, middle and secondary schools: number of schoolsJanuary 2005local authorities with middle schools
		
			   Maintained primary, middle and secondary schools 
			   Number of primary and secondary schools Number of middle schools1 of which: middle schools 9131 Total number of schools 
		
		
			 820 Bedfordshire 163 40 40 203 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 232 1 1 233 
			 835 Dorset 158 16 16 174 
			 310 Harrow 47 19 0 66 
			 919 Hertfordshire 492 6 6 498 
			 921 Isle of Wight 51 16 16 67 
			 886 Kent 575 3 3 578 
			 382 Kirklees 177 7 5 184 
			 855 Leicestershire 270 10 0 280 
			 826 Milton Keynes 82 17 0 99 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 83 6 4 89 
			 926 Norfolk 388 49 0 437 
			 392 North Tyneside 67 4 4 71 
			 815 North Yorkshire 374 2 0 376 
			 928 Northamptonshire 310 2 2 312 
			 929 Northumberland 156 44 44 200 
			 836 Poole 29 9 1 38 
			 933 Somerset 254 9 9 263 
			 860 Staffordshire 363 14 14 377 
			 935 Suffolk 292 40 40 332 
			 938 West Sussex 268 14 0 282 
			 865 Wiltshire 245 3 2 248 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 55 4 4 59 
			 885 Worcestershire 217 32 24 249 
		
	
	(14) School types derived from returns made by schools to the Department in the Annual Schools' Census.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

New Deal

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what incentives are offered for people (a) to attend and (b) to complete the New Deal's Gateway to Learning scheme.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	When participants on new deal for young people (NDYP) and new deal 25 plus (ND25 plus) join the new deal, they enter a 'Gateway' period, lasting up to four months, in which a personal adviser works with them to improve their job prospects. At the outset, personal advisers consider whether it is appropriate to refer participants for a formal basic skills assessment and if a need is identified, participants can be referred to relevant provision aimed at addressing this.
	The new deal for young people is mandatory for all 1824 year olds who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for 6 months. New deal 25 plus is mandatory for people aged 25 and over claiming JSA for 18 months or 18 out of the last 21 months. During their time on the Gateway, participants continue receiving the same rate of benefit they were receiving prior to joining the Gateway.
	Subsequent weekly Gateway interviews focus on moving people into work. Part of this process is the Gateway to Work course. Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) regulations state that it is mandatory for all NDYP customers, who are still unemployed by week four of the Gateway, to attend the two-week Gateway to Work course. ND25 plus customers can be required to attend the course if it is considered they will benefit from attendance. The two week course is designed to improve a person's employability and enhance their prospects of moving into full-time employment and off jobseekers allowance (JSA).
	NDYP participants who do not secure a job before the end of the four month Gateway period must then enter one of the four NDYP Options: the Subsidised Employment Option; the Full Time Education and Training Option; the Voluntary Sector Option or the Environment Task Force Option, all of which are aimed at helping people into work and off JSA. ND25 plus participants must enter an Intensive Activity Period which can combine work experience, work-focused training and help with motivation and job search, to help people into employment and off benefit.

Popular Schools Expansion Programme

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many applications have been made under the popular schools expansion programme; and how many (a) have been (i) approved and (ii) rejected and (b) remain under consideration;
	(2)  what the total budget is for the popular schools expansion programme; and how much has been spent to date.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 November
	The number of applications submitted to the Department for funding under the expansion of successful and popular school programme is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Withdrawn 1 
			 Under consideration 8 
			 Rejected 6 
			 Approved 7 
			 Total applications 22 
		
	
	As the successful and popular schools is demand led, no separate budget has been allocated for this programme. Funding arrangements for the seven successful applications are being finalised.
	Since the introduction of local decision making in September 1999 there have been, separate to this programme, over 450 approvals of proposals for primary and secondary school expansions.

Primary School Training Courses

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many users of the online application service for primary school training courses have reported that they have not been able to (a) contact the helpline, (b) submit applications online and (c) give references online; and what allowance will be made for applicants who have missed the deadline as a consequence of operational problems with the service;
	(2)  what the duration is of the contract with the Graduate Teacher Training Registry for the online application service for primary school teachers; what the value of the contract is; whether there are penalty clauses in the contract relating to the system being unavailable; and how many companies tendered for the contract to provide the online application system;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with the Graduate Teacher Training Registry about the online application system for those seeking to train as primary school teachers;
	(4)  if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the online application system provided by the Graduate Teacher Training Registry for primary school training courses.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 5 December 2005
	The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) contracts directly with initial teacher training institutions. There is no contract between GTTR and TDA for the online application service for primary school teachers. The application service is funded by payments from these member institutions and from applicant fees.
	My Department and the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) are aware of the recent difficulties that have been experienced at GTTR. The TDA has been in regular contact with the registry. It is satisfied that GTTR is now taking all the action it should to remedy the problems experienced earlier.
	There were some initial difficulties when processing applications while the GTTR were bedding in a new IT system. These difficulties have now been resolved and measures have been established to ensure applications reach institutions as soon as possible. The server that handles the on-line applications is now running smoothly. GTTR is not experiencing any new operational issues at this stage, and the backlog is now being cleared. The great majority of applications are submitted on-line and the remaining paper applications are being turned around within five working days. It is not possible to say how many individual users experienced problems as multiple attempts may have been made by the same people to make contact, submit applications and give references.
	GTTR will be providing additional help-line and technical support to enable applicants to submit their forms to meet a new deadline for primary applications, which has been extended by three days to midnight on 4 December. The extension will help applicants who would otherwise have needed to submit their applications by Thursday 1 December.

Private Members Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 26 October 2005, Official Report, column 393W, on private Members' Bills, whether the information was collected at any time; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: As far as I am aware, the information has never been collected.

Reading

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many reading recovery teachers are employed in schools in England (a) in total and (b) broken down by local education authority; and how many schools are involved.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Information on reading recovery can be found on the Institute of Education website at the following address: http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=9263.

School Budgets (Ribble Valley)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Ribble Valley are expected to have a budget deficit in the 200506 financial year.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not yet available. The Department is due to collect the section 52 outturn data relating to the 200506 financial year from October 2006.

School Care (Disabled Children)

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been spent on the provision of extended school care for children with disabilities in each year since 1997 in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Wakefield district and (c) Normanton constituency; and how much has been allocated in these areas in each of the next three years.

Jacqui Smith: My Department does not collect this information.

School Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding has been allocated to (a) school sixth forms and (b) 16 to 19 further education for (i) 200506, (ii) 200607 and (iii) 200708 in relation to (A) Level 1, (B) Level 2, (C) Level 3 and (D) Level 4 qualifications;
	(2)  what funding has been allocated to 16 to 19 further education in (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708 in (i) sixth form colleges, (ii) general further education and tertiary colleges and (iii) other colleges for (A) Level 1, (B) Level 2, (C) Level 3 and (D) Level 4 qualifications.

Bill Rammell: My Department allocates funds for post-16 education in school 6th forms and further education colleges to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which is the planning and funding body for post-16 education and training in England.
	For school 6th forms the LSC allocated 1.6 billion in 2005/06 to local authorities in England. A precise breakdown by level of qualification is not available but it is estimated that 90 per cent. of provision is at Level 3. Allocations for 2006/07 and 2007/08 have not yet been made.
	For Further Education the LSC distributes funds regionally for each academic year. LSC Regions and local offices allocate funds to providers based on locally-agreed provider development plans, which are designed to reflect Government policy, priorities and targets. These funds are allocated in blocks to reflect activity supporting '1618' and '19+' learners. There is considerable local flexibility to move funds around within the region each year and so it is not possible to say at this stage how those funds will eventually be used to support learning at each 'Level'. However, information (from the Individualised Learner Record') shows that for the most recently completed academic year, 2004/05, '1618' funds were used in the following way:
	
		Use of Further Education funds 2004/05
		
			  
			  sub level 2 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4+ Total 
		
		
			 GFEC 28,127,000 26,625,000 47,896,000 1,336,000 103,984,000 
			 Sixth Form Colleges 529,781,000 486,687,000 805,083,000 23,933,000 1,845,484,000 
			 Other FE providers(15) 29,360,000 66,150,000 441,719,000 3,982,000 541,211,000 
			 Total 587,268,000 579,462,000 1,294,698,000 29,251,000 2,490,679,000 
		
	
	(15) Includes Specialist Colleges and other providers of FE provision

School Location

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary age pupils are obliged to travel more than three miles to school; and how many did so in the school year before key stage 1 and 2 classes were limited to 30.

Jacqui Smith: The information available has been provided in the following table.
	
		Number of pupils residing more than three miles(16) from the primary(17) school they attendEngland
		
			  Number and percentage 
		
		
			 2002  
			 Number 124,439 
			 Percentage 3.6 
			   
			 2005  
			 Number 135,533 
			 Percentage 4.0 
		
	
	(16) Distances calculated are straight line.
	(17) Includes middle deemed primary schools.
	Source:
	Annual School Census
	It is not possible to address the second part of the question because information of this type has only been available from the Annual School Census since 2002.

School Non-attenders

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on school non-attenders, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that (a) 16 to 19 year olds and (b) adults on publicly funded courses do not absent themselves from those courses.

Bill Rammell: Attendance in learning over the age of 16 is voluntary. However our aim is that all young people should stay in learning up to age 19, and continue in learning throughout life, to secure the skills that they, and the economy, need. Participation and attendance in post-16 education and training depends on the quality, relevance, effectiveness and perceived value of the provision and outcomes for each learner alongside sound information, advice, guidance and pastoral care.
	Improved retention and attainment is underpinned by general funding principles and individual incentives and sanctions-to earn free funding for leavers, an institution must ensure that they both complete the course and achieve their qualification aims. Among the incentives and sanctions are:
	Minimum standards of learner success (based on achievement and retention) for colleges and work based learning providers.
	Education maintenance allowances designed to encourage young people to stay in learning by offering up to 30 per week payments for remaining at school or college.Payments and bonuses are stopped for absenteeism.
	Adult Learning Grant (ALG) which is payable on the basis of satisfactory attendance at a course of learning, with the allowance being withdrawn if people do not attend.

School Toilets

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  why the regulations governing school toilets in day and residential schools are different;
	(2)  what work the Department's School Building and Design Unit has undertaken to review the regulations governing toilets in day schools;
	(3)  what plans she has to review the regulations governing the design and maintenance of day school toilets to take account of her plans for extended schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 recognise the different needs of pupils in day and residential schools. A greater provision is required in the latter because washroom facilities must be located near to sleeping accommodation, with easy access, in addition to the facilities required convenient to teaching accommodation. Some of the daytime provision may count towards that required for boarders if it is in an appropriate location and offers good access to residential pupils.
	The regulations do not specify the number of toilets that should be provided for staff and visitors, but do state that they should be separate from those provided for pupils. However, the Department's design team is producing new design guidance for extended schools. This does say that additional facilities may be needed to cope with a wider range of adult and child users, and gives the example of additional adult toilets being needed in a primary school. This should be published early in 2006. A review of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 has not been undertaken and is not currently planned.

School Toilets

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of the level of toilet provision in schools on the implementation of her policy on encouraging children to drink water.

Jacqui Smith: The requirements for toilet provision in schools are set out in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. A review of these requirements has not been undertaken and is not currently planned.

Schools Commissioner

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff will be employed by the Schools Commissioner; and what the Commissioner's annual budget will be.

Jacqui Smith: The Schools Commissioner will be a senior civil servant within the Department for Education and Skills. We envisage that the Schools Commissioner will be supported by existing DfES staff engaged in work connected with the Commissioner's areas of responsibility. The costs of the Commissioner will be met from existing DfES running cost and programme resources.

Science

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage more students to study science at advanced level.

Jacqui Smith: The Government 10-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework outlines our plans to increase the number of young people choosing to study science, engineering and technology at A-level. We are taking this forward by improving teaching and learning through all school phases by:
	introducing a new programme of study for science at key stage 4, leading to new GCSEs. The new programme maintains the breadth, depth and challenge of the current curriculum, while catering for a wide range of students' interests and aptitudes which will ensure that the science taught in schools inspires learners to pursue further study;
	reviewing science at key stage 3, especially in relation to the new science programme at key stage 4;
	providing innovative and exciting continuing professional development for teachers and technicians through the national network of Science Learning Centres;
	improving teacher recruitment in science by increasing the value of the teacher training bursaries for science graduates and 'golden hellos' for new science teachers.

Science

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) GCSE and (b) A level entries there were in science subjects from each specialist science school in each of the last 10 years, including years before the school acquired specialist status.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Service Schools

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on the publication of the key stage results of children of service personnel who transfer from service schools to the state sector.

Jacqui Smith: No discussions have taken place between my Department and the Ministry of Defence regarding the publication of key stage results of children of service personnel who transfer from service schools to the state sector.

Sexual Health (Sheffield)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many NHS establishments in Sheffield declined to participate in the Working Together to Safeguard Children Protocols pilot on sexual health.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	There has not been a pilot of Working Together to Safeguard Children protocols in Sheffield.

Supply Teachers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many supply teachers are on the register; and how many were on the register in each of the past five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Schools have various ways of sourcing supply teachers depending on local conditions. They may maintain their own list, or use a local authority register or an independent agency.

Sweets

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued to schools on teachers using sweets to reward pupils' good behaviour or work.

Jacqui Smith: Our advice on whole school behaviour policy, published as part of the Secondary National Strategy tool kit for schools, does not recommend the use of sweets as a reward. It states:
	'A more formal reward system of credits, merits and prizes can be used to recognise and congratulate all pupils when they set good examples or show improvement in their own behaviour or attendance. Letters to parents and carers and special privileges are among many particularly effective ways of demonstrating praise for good behaviour'.
	Schools themselves are in the best position to choose the exact form of reward that positive behaviour merits.

Teacher Recruitment

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the local cost of living on teacher recruitment and retention.

Jacqui Smith: Recruitment and retention strategies continue to have a positive impact on the number of teachers in England, including London and the south east where cost of living and vacancy rates have always been higher. The latest published figures show a continuing decrease in the number of teachers leaving the profession, while the numbers joining is continuing to grow. In January 2005, 431,900 full-time equivalent regular teachers were employed in maintained schools in England, over 4,000 more than the same time last year.

Telecommunications Masts

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills whether she plans to changedepartmental guidance to schools on objections that schools may raise in connection with telecommunications masts.

Jacqui Smith: My Department has not issued any guidance to schools in relation to objections that schools may raise in connection with telecommunications masts. We are reviewing information on our Teachernet website about the Stewart Report, the Government response to it, and the Mobile Operators' Association advice, to see if we want to update any of this.

Water Coolers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to audit the availability of mains-linked water coolers in schools; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not have any plans to audit water coolers in schools. Regulation 22 of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 requires that every maintained school shall have a wholesome supply of water for domestic purposes, including a supply of drinking water. The regulation does not specify how drinking water should be provided for pupils. However, in our guidance note Standards for School Premises (DFEE 0029/2000), we say that those responsible should consider the pattern of demand within schools, which can be concentrated within quite short breaks.

Yellow School Buses

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has held with the Secretary of State for Transport with regard to yellow school buses.

Jacqui Smith: The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has not held any discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the subject of yellow buses in recent months. However, my Department and the Department for Transport share the view that well-designed yellow bus schemes have the potential to reduce car dependency for journeys to school and the traffic congestion that results from this. We would anticipate that, subject to the will of Parliament, some local authorities might include proposals for yellow bus provision in their bids for the pathfinder schemes envisaged by the recent White PaperHigher Standards, Better Schools for All.

WALES

Departmental Tendering Policy

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is on including (a) ethical and (b) environmental factors in tenders for services.

Peter Hain: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and shares their policies in line with guidance set by the EU Community law.
	The Department acquires contracts in accordance with the general principles of EU Community law, which are non-discrimination, equal treatment, transparency, proportionality, and mutual recognition.
	All Environment factors in contracts are considered on a case by case basis relative to the subject matter of the contract, and the requirements of EU Community law.

Freedom of Information

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Freedom of Information applications his Department has received; how many have taken more than 20 days to process; and how many of these gave rise to complaints about the time taken.

Peter Hain: Statistics about requests received under the Freedom of Information Act are published by the Department of Constitutional Affairs on a quarterly basis. In the first six months since January 2005 (when the Act came into force) the figures show that the Wales Office received 49 requests. 42 were answered within the 20 day deadline and four were answered within an agreed extended deadline.
	The Wales Office has not received any complaints about the timeliness of responses to Freedom of Information requests.

Winter Deaths

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Cabinet and the Welsh Assembly regarding excess winter deaths of those aged over 65 years in Wales.

Peter Hain: I regularly meet with the Assembly Ministers to discuss a range of issues such as tackling excess winter deaths of those over 65 in Wales.
	The Welsh Assembly Government has policies and actions in place to reduce the impact of colder winter weather on the health of older people. For instance, it funds the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which provides the installation of central heating in homes, and runs the annual 'Keep Well This Winter' campaign. This campaign encourages older people to take extra measures to look after their health during the winter such as having the flu vaccination, eating properly and taking appropriate exercise, and by keeping warm and safe.
	In addition, in winter 200405 over 464,000 households in Wales benefited from winter fuel payments of at least 200. Out of these households, 110,000 with someone aged over 80 received 300 winter fuel payment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Airspace (Extraordinary Rendition)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) oral and (b) written representations he has made to his US counterpart on behalf of the European Union regarding the use of EU airspace for extraordinary rendition flights of those accused of terrorist activities; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5 December 2005 (UIN 33818).

Burma

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is towards resolution RC-B60592/2005 of the European Parliament of 17 November on Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We agree with the European Parliament's conclusion in resolution RC-B60592/2005 that the UN has a vital role to play in Burma. We strongly support the UN Secretary General's efforts to promote national reconciliation and democratisation in Burma, and agree with his most recent 'good offices' report of 10 October. Human rights violations have been highlighted in successive highly critical UK co-sponsored UN resolutions on Burma, most recently at the UN General Assembly in November. These issues remain a focus for the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Professor Sergio Pinheiro, and the UN Secretary General's special envoy to Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, whom we urge the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to allow to return to Burma.
	We fully support US efforts to secure discussion of Burma by the UN Security Council. We believe that such a discussion, including covering the human rights situation, would increase the pressure on the Burmese regime to effect genuine change. It would send a powerful signal to the Burmese leadership that the UN Security Councilthe body with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and securityis concerned about the situation in Burma.
	We believe that it is essential for the SPDC to enter into a constructive dialogue with all legitimate representative bodies, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, and the ethnic groups to promote national reconciliation.
	We share the European Parliament's concerns about the continuing detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We have repeatedly called for her immediate release and that of all political prisoners in Burma, most recently in a statement on behalf of the European Union on 28 November.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are planning to take to respond to the tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea; and what action it plans to take to support the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing economic sanctions on the two nations if they do not return to the conditions of the peace plan signed in 2000.

Ian Pearson: We remain concerned at the continuing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their disputed border. We continue to underline to both parties that there must be no return to war; that the decision of the Boundary Commission is final and binding, and must be implemented; and that they should engage in dialogue on all the issues that divide them.
	United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640 (2005) allows Ethiopia and Eritrea 30 days to respond to the demands made of them in the resolution to withdraw troops from the border area, and for Eritrea to lift the ban on UN helicopter flights. After that period, the Security Council will consider imposing sanctions in the form of an arms embargo. We will continue to assess how an arms embargo would affect the situation, including the wider impact of an embargo, as the situation develops. We are working closely with UN and Security Council partners to find a way forward for this problem. The use of economic sanctions has not been specifically raised by Security Council members and we believe this action is unlikely to be proposed.

European Court of Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions can be employed to ensure member states of the Council of Europe implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

Douglas Alexander: As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice), on 14 October 2005, Official Report, column 642W, there are several courses of action available to the Council of Europe.
	The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers can adopt interim resolutions expressing concern with respect to the slow or non-execution of a judgment. Peer pressure is increased to encourage rapid compliance with the court's judgment. In the vast majority of cases, this is sufficient to ensure compliance.
	At the request of the Committee of Ministers, the Chairman in Office can write to or hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the respondent state.
	The ultimate measure available to the Committee of Ministers is recourse to article 8 of the Council of Europe's statute: suspension of voting rights in the Committee of Ministers, or even expulsion from the organisation. But this is an extreme measure, which would prove counter-productive in most cases.
	In order to strengthen the measures available, protocol 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights empowers the Committee of Ministers to bring infringement proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights against a state that refuses to abide by a judgment. We are urging all member states of the Council of Europe to ratify the protocol as soon as possible, as the UK has done, so that it can enter into force.

European Court of Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the member countries of the Council of Europe which are failing to comply with decisions of the European Court of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the UK Government's policy in respect of such failure to comply.

Douglas Alexander: The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers is currently supervising the execution of judgments against 41 member states of the Council of Europe. They are:
	Albania,
	Andorra,
	Austria,
	Belgium,
	Bulgaria,
	Croatia,
	Cyprus,
	Czech Republic,
	Denmark,
	Estonia,
	Finland,
	France,
	Georgia,
	Germany,
	Greece,
	Hungary,
	Iceland,
	Ireland,
	Italy,
	Latvia,
	Liechtenstein,
	Lithuania,
	Luxembourg,
	Malta,
	Moldova,
	The Netherlands,
	Poland,
	Portugal,
	Romania,
	Russia,
	San Marino,
	Serbia and Montenegro,
	Slovakia,
	Slovenia,
	Spain,
	Sweden,
	Switzerland,
	the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
	Turkey,
	Ukraine and
	the United Kingdom.
	Responsibility for supervising the execution of judgments lies with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and the UK works through the Committee of Ministers (where the UK is represented) to encourage full implementation of the court's judgments.

Former Residence (Cape Town)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether the former residence of the British high commissioner in Cape Town is for sale;
	(2)  what the open market value is of the former residence of the British high commissioner at Upper Hillwood Road, Bishopscourt, Cape Town;
	(3)  what the total cost was of the repair and refurbishment of the Cape Town residence of the British high commissioner after the fire in 1999; and what proportion of the cost was met by (a) the high commission, (b) the Government and (c) third parties.

Ian Pearson: The Cape Town Residence of the British high commissioner is not in the sales programme. The open market value of the property when it was last valued in June 2005 was 1.57 million (Rand 19 million). The final account value for repair and refurnishing the Residence after the 1999 fire amounted to some 700,000. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office successfully claimed against third parties involved, receiving some 530,000 in compensation.

Former Residence (Cape Town)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's rules are for the sale of former residences of British high commissioners overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the discussion of estate issues in the Government's response to the Foreign Affairs Committee report on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report 200304 (Cm 6415), which is available in the Library of the House. Where properties are under-performing or unsuitable, selling and reinvesting is part of normal estate business.

Morocco-Spain Tunnel

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding is being provided by the EU to build a tunnel between Morocco and Spain; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: No EU funding has been allocated to this project.

UK Overseas Posts (Disabled Access)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of providing access for disabled people to all UK overseas posts.

Ian Pearson: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In all new Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) building projects, provision is made in the overall budget to ensure full accessibility to people with disabilities, both members of the public and FCO staff. In major refurbishment of existing buildings, improvements to access are made whenever possible, and provision made in the overall budget.
	In addition, overseas posts are aware of their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act Part III and have been instructed to review disabled access, make information about accessibility available and, where possible, make improvements. Where access is limited, posts seek alternative ways of providing accessible services.

West Papua

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to satisfy himself of the appropriate use of British-made arms equipment in West Papua; and if he will end the granting of licences for arms exports to Indonesia.

Ian Pearson: We follow up any credible allegations that British supplied military equipment has been used for human rights abuses. All export licence applications, including those for Indonesia, are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time.

World Trade Organisation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he will play in the World Trade Organisations talks in Hong Kong.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will not attend the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong (1318 December). He will be at the European Council in Brussels on 15 and 16 December.
	The UK delegation at Hong Kong will be led by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Alan Johnson), whose Department leads on trade issues within the Government. He will be accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett), my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) and my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade (Ian Pearson). Representatives from a number of Select Committees of the House, will be part of the UK delegation. The Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and development non governmental organisations will also be represented.

Zirconium Silicate (Iran)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department became aware that the Bulgarian authorities at the beginning of September had intercepted a truck travelling from the UK to Iran containing zirconium silicate; when other United Kingdom authorities were alerted to this event; what the subsequent involvement of his Department in the investigation was; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The truck was stopped on 31 August by the Bulgarian authorities. This was reported in the Bulgarian press on 2 September. Our embassy in Sofia informed the relevant authorities in London on 7 September. We arranged for the carrying out of necessary checks and confirmed on 28 October that the cargo was legitimate. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office therefore had no further involvement.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Damages

John Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the 10 largest amounts of damages paid out by her Department in the last year for which figures are available, indicating in each case the nature of the claim.

Bridget Prentice: The 10 largest amounts of damages paid out by the Department during the financial year ended 31 March 2005 are included in the following table.
	
		
			 Reason for payment Type of payment Date Value () 
		
		
			 Court Service was alleged to have maladministered a case in which these costs arosedelay in payments from CFO, interest for delay, cost of solicitors to pursue the matter Costs 14 September 2004 18,910.00 
			 Maladministration of claimweak arguments and adjourned hearingsled to additional loss/costs. Court lost Judge's notebook Compensation 26 May 2004 15,922.71 
			 Court failed to serve interim 3rd party debt order which led to successful maladministration order Compensation and costs 8 July 2004 9,664,08 
			 Strick liability arising out an accident in a lift which was properly maintained Injury compensation 9 November 2004 9,644.00 
			 Costs arose as a result of pursuing an appeal on behalf of clients. Failure to serve notice into court meant wrong courses of action taken Compensation (fees) 20 May 2004 7,905.35 
			 Worcester Combined Court Centre made errors in handling the case which resulted in the order Wasted costs order 11 February 2005 7,413.21 
			 Alleged poor investment decisions. Would not agree on inherent risk in the market. Payment is to dispose of potential litigation and costs Special payment for the ex-sultan of Zanzibar due to loss of interest 16 March 2005 6,786.73 
			 Delay in appeal being heard. Court did not get transcripts in time for the hearing. Appeal order was delayed Costs 17 December 2004 6,323.84 
			 The Department disputed some of the solicitors costs arising in this case Compensation for wrongful imprisonment 24 June 2004 6,071.57 
			 The caseworker failed to keep the Inland Revenue informed of the position regarding the administration of the estate Liability for interest and penalties late payment of CGT 4 March 2005 4,552.38

Departmental Estate

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what (a) land and (b) property her Department (i) owns and (ii) rents in each constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: My Department has:
	No land owned freehold.
	One property owned freehold. This is Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London which is occupied by the Wales Office.
	This is in the Cities of London and Westminster Boro Constituency.
	No land rented leasehold.
	The following properties rented leasehold (by constituency):
	Cities of London and Westminster Boro Constituency
	4 Abbey Orchard Street, London SW1P
	Clive House, 70 Petty France, London SW1H
	Dover House, Whitehall, London SW1A
	30 Millbank, London SW1P
	Millbank Tower, London SW1P
	Selbourne House, 54 Victoria Street, London SW1E
	Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E
	Steel House, 11 Tothill Street, London SW1
	50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H
	Holborn and St. Pancras Constituency
	81 Chancery Lane, London WC2
	Conquest House, Theobolds Road, London WC1N
	Islington North Constituency
	Archway Tower, Junction Road, London N19
	Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Boro Constituency
	Gateshead Interchange Centre, West Street NE8
	Bristol West Boro Constituency
	Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1
	Bristol North West Boro Constituency
	Burghill Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
	Cardiff South and Penarth Boro Constituency
	Discovery House, Scott Harbour, Cardiff CF10 4PJ
	Manchester Central Boro Constituency
	Sunlight House, Quay Street, Manchester M60
	Leeds Central Boro Constituency
	West Riding House, Albion Street, Leeds LS1
	City House, New Station Street, Leeds LS1
	Edinburgh North and Leith Burgh Constituency
	50 Frederick Street, Edinburgh

Licensing Applications (Good Practice Guide)

Theresa May: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the good practice guidance published by the Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks Society in 1999 on the demand/needs test for licensing applications.

James Purnell: I have been asked to reply.
	I am arranging for a copy of the 2001 updated version of the Justices' Clerks' Society good practice guide to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This guidance relates to the Licensing Act 1964 which was repealed on 24 November 2005.

Public Defender Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will publish the report commissioned by her Department into the public defender service; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Independent academic research has been carried out into the public defender service and the report of their findings will be published in the new year.

Race Equality Impact Assessments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many race equality impact assessments her Department had completed in the period (a) April 2004 to March 2005 and (b) April 2005 to November 2005; and how many assessments in each period resulted in a change of policy.

Bridget Prentice: The Department Affairs completed 11 race equality impact assessments between April 2004 and March 2005 and two race equality impact assessments from April 2005 to date. No changes to policy were identified as being needed. A list detailing the policies that were assessed for race equality impact during the specified periods are listed at follows.
	Parliamentary question: Mr. Keith Vaz (Leicester East)race equality impact assessments
	1. How many race equality impact assessments (REIAs) has your department completed between April 2004 and March 2005?
	Number of REIAs completed11
	Which policies have you assessed the race equality impact for during this period? (Please include all regulatory impact assessments that have included race equality impact assessments.)
	Policy name
	1. Civil Legal Aidfinal combined regulatory and race impact assessment (March 2005)
	2. A single civil court?partial RIA (February 2005)
	3. Civil court feesfinal RIA (November 2004)
	4. Inquiries Actfinal RIA (November 2004)
	5. Increasing diversity in the judiciarypartial combined regulatory and race impact assessment (October 2004)
	6. Variation of periodical paymentsfinal RIA (September 2004)
	7. A choice of paths: better options to manage over-indebtedness and multiple debtpartial RIA (July 2004)
	8. Simpler conditional fee arrangementspartial RIA (June 2004)
	9. Mental Capacity Actfinal RIA (June 2004)
	10. Criminal Defence Service Billpartial RIA (May 2004)
	11. Proposals for changes to publicly funded immigration and asylum workpartial regulatory and race impact assessment (March 2004)
	What changes to policies have been made as a result of conducting REIAs?
	Policy changes madenone made
	2. How many race equality impact assessments (REIAs) has your department completed between April 2005 to date.
	Number of REIAs completed2
	Which policies have you assessed the race equality impact for during this period? (Please include all regulatory impact assessments that have included race equality impact assessments.)
	Policy name
	1. Telephone hearings in civil proceedings July 2005
	2. Makaton sign in courts October 2005
	What changes to policies have been made as a result of conducting REIAs?
	Policy changes madenone made

Sick Leave

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many of her Department's employees who are within one year of the official retirement age are on extended sick leave.

Bridget Prentice: The Department currently has one employee currently on extended sick leave who is also within one year of normal retirement age. The Department is committed to managing all sickness absence promptly and effectively, including absences of those near to normal retirement age, and to putting in place the recommendations of the recently published Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector to ensure that all such absence management is in line with current guidance and best practice.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Corporacion Fischel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether during the period in which the Commonwealth Development Corporation had a shareholding in Corporacion Fischel Corporacion Fischel entered into an agreement with the Finnish company Instrumentarium to supply medical equipment to Costa Rica.
	(2)  whether the company O. Fischel R. was a controlled subsidiary of Corporacion Fischel during the period in which the Commonwealth Development Corporation had a shareholding in Corporacion Fischel.

Hilary Benn: Corporacion Fischel did not enter into an agreement with Instrumentarium during the period in which the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) had a shareholding in Corporacion Fischel.
	The CDC is aware of two companies called O. Fischel R: one Costa Rican; the other Panamanian. The Costa Rican company was a controlled subsidiary of Corporacion Fischel, in which the CDC had a shareholding. The Panamanian company had no connection with Corporacion Fischel.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Gareth Thomas: This information is not held centrally. DFID has two headquarters offices in London and in East Kilbride, and offices in some 67 locations overseas. It is normal for a number of UK based staff to transfer between offices each year, mainly between headquarters and overseas. We do not hold a central record of these postings. We have not however, transferred any jobs into our London headquarters. Our relocation plans are in keeping with Government policy with 85 posts being relocated to our office in East Kilbride over the periods 200405 and 200506.

HIV/AIDS

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he is taking to ensure that International Monetary Fund conditions allow increases in spending of money provided by the IMF on health in countries fighting HIV/AIDS.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other donors to improve the predictability of aid flows, the effectiveness of IMF signalling, and countries own expenditure management capacity. This will ensure that countries are better able to plan for increased spending in health and other key sectors identified in their Poverty Reduction Strategies, while maintaining the fiscal sustainability and macroeconomic stability which are essential to long term growth and poverty reduction.
	DFID has supported a series of High Level Meetings on the health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over the past 18 months. These meetings have brought together senior representatives of Ministries of Health and Finance from developing countries, donors and international organisations including the World Bank and the IMF. The meetings have looked to develop solutions to the systematic barriers to faster progress in realising the MDGs.
	The IMF's focus is appropriately, on maintaining fiscal sustainability and overall macroeconomic stability, as an essential underpinning to planned Government programmes and economic growth. Within these objectives, DFID has worked with the IMF on the issue of creating 'fiscal space'that is increasing the financial scope for countries to expand their allocations to provide critical services such as health and HIV/AIDS services. The IMF has led much of this work.
	The UK has also worked with the IMF to improve its role in 'signalling' and donor co-ordination. The unpredictability of future aid flows from donors is a significant constraint on countries' ability to plan future spending, creating uncertainty about both overall budgets, and about the availability of resources to finance individual programmes, including in the health sector. The IMF has a role to play in supporting countries' own budget processes, and in working with donors to improve the predictability of their aid.
	The UK is pushing for greater predictability and less volatility of aid and longer-term financial commitments. This would provide confidence to Ministries of Finance to establish more ambitious financial frameworks and take on the long term recurrent costs associated with, for example, scaling up comprehensive HIV/responses. Malawi is a good example where the IMF has worked effectively with the Ministry of Finance to support the implementation of an ambitious emergency human resource programme for health.

HIV/AIDS

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken over the last 12 months to ensure a long-term supply of affordable paediatric drugs for HIV in developing countries; what discussions he has had with the pharmaceutical industry on this; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government, led by DFID, has done a great deal of work to increase access to medicines for people in developing countries, including for children.
	In 2004 we published the UK Government's policy and plans on increasing access to medicines, which focused on: support to developing countries to build health services; support to countries to understand and appropriately use the flexibilities contained in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement that governs intellectual property rights; new work to increase investment in research and development (R and D) for diseases affecting developing countries; and direct engagement with the pharmaceutical industry to increase access. In DFID's 2004 HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care Policy, we made a commitment to focus on the needs of children, women and the poor.
	In March of this year we published jointly with the Department of Health (DH) and Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) a 'good practice' framework, building on good practice in the pharmaceutical industry and the work of the World Health Organisation, the (WHO) and others to set out recommended actions companies could take around pricing, Research and Development investments and how they work in developing countries, to help increase access to medicines. The framework had clear recommendations around the importance of ensuring medicines, including ARVs, were available in appropriate paediatric formulations. In the context of this work, DFID has convened a series of meetings with the industry, at which this issue has been addressed.
	The UK also played a key role in the 30 August 2003 decision by the WTO TRIPS Council to allow developing countries with no pharmaceutical industry of their own to import copies of patented medicines under compulsory licence in accordance with the provisions of the decision. This historic decision will help developing countries to negotiate with drug producers, and help to maintain access to cheaper copies, including for paediatric formulations where they exist.
	The UK has also taken a lead internationally to support more research into treatments and vaccines for diseases affecting developing countries, including for children. In the UK's AIDS strategy Taking Action (2004) the UK committed to increase our support for research into: microbicides; treatments and new technologies for the poor, women and young people including children; and the social, economic and cultural impact of AIDS.
	DFID continues to support Product Development Public Private Partnerships (PDPs) for the development of HIV vaccines. DFID has also funded research on the appropriate use of existing medicines in developing country settings including, clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in reducing mortality among children, and co-funding trials with the Medical Research Council (MRC) accelerating the development and evaluation of ARV treatment protocols that are simple to use, but remain safe, effective and relevant to the needs of people with HIV and AIDS, including women and children, in resource poor settings.
	More does need to be done to ensure a long-term supply of affordable paediatric drugs for the treatment of HIV and AIDS in developing countries. We will therefore continue our work with the pharmaceutical industry, to support appropriate use of TRIPS and to increase R and D investment, and work to ensure that children are able to access the drugs they need in the formulations they need.

Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to re-house residents displaced by the volcanic activity in the south of the island of Montserrat.

Gareth Thomas: Between 1997 and 2001, DFID funded over 1,000 housing units in Montserrat for displaced residents. Further housing assistance, agreed with the Government of Montserrat (GoM) in October 2001, focused on provision of 200 serviced residential lots, sheltered housing for the elderly and mentally ill, a self-build materials grant scheme for poorer households, and refurbishment of temporary housing. Additional support, including the preparation of serviced lots and the construction of 60 houses, is being funded by the European Union.
	Most displaced residents, who remained on the island, now have satisfactory accommodation. However, some still live in sub-standard conditions; and inadequate access to permanent housing is cited as one of the major factors deterring displaced Montserratians overseas from returning.
	DFID officials held talks in Montserrat in November about the outstanding needs, especially improving housing for the most vulnerable and those still living in shelters. We will be reviewing our assistance in the light of those discussions.

Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures have been taken to reduce the impact of future eruptions from the Soufriere Hills volcano on development plans in Montserrat.

Gareth Thomas: Volcanic activity on Montserrat is monitored on a day to day basis by the staff of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, which is run under contract by the British Geological Survey. Their reports are analysed at regular intervals by a Scientific Advisory Committee. The resulting information and advice is conveyed to the Governor and the Montserrat Government, as well as to residents, visitors and other interested groups. It is fully taken into account in all development plans. The most obvious outcome has been the focusing of development activities in the 'safe zone' in the north of the island.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to control the environmental impact of the tourist developments occurring on the Turks and Caicos islands.

Gareth Thomas: The responsibility for such issues rests with the Turks and Caicos Island authorities. Between 2001 and March 2005, however, we funded an Environmental Adviser to the Protected Areas Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. His responsibilities included provision of advice on tourism development control and the formulation of policies relating specifically to development activities within protected areas. The Turks and Caicos Islands graduated from the need for UK development assistance in March of this year.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Absenteeism

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce absenteeism in his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Department has taken a range of steps in line with the recommendations in the report from the Ministerial Task Force for Health, Safety and Productivity, Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector, which was published in November 2004.
	These include:
	The policies for dealing with sickness absence were revised and re-launched earlier this year;
	Progress in reducing the levels of absence feature strongly in management discussions about performance;
	A new IT system was introduced which provides managers with quicker and better data about absence levels, and action being taken;
	Through use of the HSE's stress management standards, the Department is addressing the causes of stress;
	A pilot is being run to test whether being more flexible in giving time off at short notice reduces the level of sickness absence;
	We are exploring the scope for using incentives to reward good attendance.

Air Miles

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many air miles were accrued by ministerial travel in 200405, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity.

Anne McGuire: Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. I can confirm that no air miles were accrued, foregone or donated to charity through ministerial travel by this department in 20042005.
	The Department's Travel and Subsistence Guidance is clear that any air miles accrued by officials should be used solely against future business travel wherever possible. However the vast majority of our business travel is booked through a third- party contract and no air miles are accrued through this service.

Benefit Claimants (Medical Examination)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what factors underlay his decision to propose changes to the system of medical examination for benefit claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: A range of proposals are still under consideration to ensure that the process of assessment provides the most appropriate outcome for benefit claimants.
	Details of our proposals for welfare reform will be published in the forthcoming Green Paper.

Child Support

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of Child Support Agency cases which are being handled where the non-resident parent has yet to be assessed because their employer is being traced.

James Plaskitt: The ability to trace an employer does not in itself prevent a calculation or assessment from being made. This is because, in terms of calculating maintenance payments, the onus is on the non-resident parent to provide the Agency with verification of earnings.
	Where this does not happen, a default maintenance decision (for new scheme cases) or an interim maintenance assessment (for old scheme cases) may be imposed. If the non-resident parent does not comply in paying this, the Agency will attempt to trace the employer so that a Deduction from Earnings Order can be considered.
	We do not currently have management information which records the volume of such trace work undertaken.
	In the event that the Agency is unable to verify earnings or trace an employer, the default maintenance decision or interim maintenance assessment will remain in effect and the Agency will consider alternative methods for enforcing the maintenance owed.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list departmental projects conducted by consultants in each year since 2000; what the cost was in each case; and what the total cost of employing consultants was in each year.

Margaret Hodge: Information on departmental projects conducted by consultants in each year since 2000 and the costs in each case is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The total cost of employing consultants in 200001 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The total cost of employing consultants in each year for the remaining years is as follows.
	
		 million
		
			  Management consultancy IT consultancy 
		
		
			 200102 23.79 70.67 
			 200203 47.57 93.47 
			 200304 223.35 83.37 
			 200405 98.64 69.73

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to ensure that consultancies do not claim excessive expenses while working for the Department and its agencies.

Margaret Hodge: Expenses claims for consultants engaged by the Department are actively managed and are based upon the same arrangements as those of civil servants.

Consultants/Special Advisers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) consultants and (b) special advisers were employed by his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of each was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Consultants are not employed by this Department but are engaged under contractual arrangements. We are unable to provide an answer to how many consultants were engaged by this Department in each year since 1997 without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The cost to the Department of consultants engaged in each year is given in the table. Please note DWP was formed in June 2001, therefore there is no expenditure for this Department prior to this date.
	
		 million
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Description 
			 Management consultancy 23.79 47.57 223.35 98.64 
			 IT consultancy 70.67 93.47 83.37 69.73 
		
	
	Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on Thursday 21 July 2005, Official Report, 15862WS.
	Information on the numbers of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library of the House.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 22 September 2005, reference POS (7) 10476/0058, which was acknowledged on 11 October 2005.

Margaret Hodge: Matthew Nicholas, the Acting Director for External Relations and Communications replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on the 28 November 2005 on behalf of the chief executive for Jobcentre Plus, Leslie Strathie.

Data Protection

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many enforcement notices have been served on his Department by the Information Commissioner in connection with the Data Protection Act 1998 since it came into force.

Anne McGuire: No enforcement notices have been served on the Department.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which individual is responsible for developing and implementing his Department's Skills Development Plan.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 November, Official Report, column 1074W.

Departmental Staff

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people are employed by his Department (a) at each of its sites and (b) by each (i) agency and (ii) directorate of his Department at each of its sites along the Fylde coast;
	(2)  how many jobs are planned to be lost from his Department along the Fylde coast; and which (a) agencies and (b) sites these job losses will affect.

Anne McGuire: The number of people employed on the Fylde coast by agency and corporate centre directorates by site is shown in the following table.
	Business and work force plans continue to be developed across the Department. At this time information on any planned job losses on the Fylde coast is not available.
	
		
			Staff 
			 Site Town Agency/Unit Headcount Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Fleetwood Road North Blackpool Jobcentre Plus 18 15 
			 Queen Street Blackpool Jobcentre Plus 62 57 
			 Marton Mere Blackpool Jobcentre Plus 333 310 
			 Mexford House Blackpool The Pension Service 252 241 
			 National Savings Buildings Blackpool Jobcentre Plus 27 24 
			 Norcross Blackpool Disability and Carers Service 786 725 
			 Norcross Blackpool Finance Directorate 884 831 
			 Norcross Blackpool Human Resources 202 182 
			 Norcross Blackpool Programme and Systems Delivery 9 8 
			 Norcross Blackpool Debt Management 86 80 
			 Norcross Blackpool Jobcentre Plus 32 30 
			 Norcross Blackpool The Pension Service 3 3 
			 Peel Park Blackpool Communications 34 33 
			 Peel Park Blackpool Finance 17 17 
			 Peel Park Blackpool Human Resources 4 4 
			 Peel Park Blackpool Programme and Systems Delivery 98 94 
			 Peel Park Blackpool The Pension Service 47 46 
			 Tydesley Road Blackpool Jobcentre Plus 51 48 
			 Warbreck Hill Blackpool Disability and Carers Service 2,476 2,189 
			   Debt Management 60 57 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Disability and Carers Service 31 31 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Child Support Agency 357 295 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Finance Directorate 34 33 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Human Resources 8 8 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Information Division 10 9 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Programme and Systems Delivery 72 68 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Work, Welfare and Equality Group 18 17 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes Jobcentre Plus 572 545 
			 Government Buildings Lytham St. Annes The Pension Service 93 91 
			 Westmorland House Lytham St. Annes Jobcentre Plus 38 37 
			 Beacon Road Poulton Le Fylde Disability and Carers Service 91 75 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are point in time at 31 August 2005.
	2. Temporary staff are included.
	3. Full-time equivalent expresses part-time hours as a proportion of full-time hours.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) makes a number of learning resources available to meet the work-related literacy and numeracy needs of its staff. These resources address specific business needs such as effective briefing and written communication with customers and are provided either as face-to-face courses or as blended learning solutions. All staff have a Personal Development Plan which is reviewed twice yearly with their manager and any development needs, including literacy and numeracy needs, are identified and addressed.
	In addition, DWP has entered into a partnership with its main trade union, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), to address the basic literacy and numeracy needs of its staff. Since March 2004 this has been the main focus of activity of the union learning representative (ULR) network that has been established within DWP.
	ULRs encourage staff to assess their skills and support them to address any learning need they identify through a local college or Learndirect. The DWP is committed to help staff by providing any necessary time off to attend learning designed to bring their skills up to level 2 of the national qualifications framework.
	The PCS has made provision for staff at our offices in Newcastle and Leeds to access learning to level 2 at their workplace. This type of internal provision is likely to increase as more staff assess their basic skills using an online diagnostic tool that will be available to them in the new year.

DNA Bioscience

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which contracts of his Department and its agencies are being bid for by DNA Bioscience; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: No contracts of DWP or its agencies are being bid for by DNA Bioscience.

Gershon Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made, in terms of (a) headcount reductions and (b) cost savings, in achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review.

Anne McGuire: Progress was reported in Budget 2005 and in the departmental annual reports. Further progress will be reported in the autumn performance reports and at aggregate level in the pre-Budget report.

Gershon Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent employee reductions there have been in his Department as a result of the Gershon review; what cost savings relating to IT projects were achieved; what value of efficiency savings (a) were achieved in 200405 and (b) are expected to be achieved in 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 3 November 2005
	Staffing within the Department at the end of September 2005 was 116,417 full-time equivalents, an overall reduction in headcount of 14,215. In order to meet the efficiency challenge, the Department has implemented business change programmes and projects that are enabled by changes to our IT systems. These programmes and projects have provided savings of around 150 million for 200405. The Department has an efficiency target for 200708 but no intermediate target for 200506.

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been claimed in incapacity benefit in Milton Keynes since 2000.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit paid in Milton Keynes
		
			  million 
			  Nominal terms Real terms (200506 prices) 
		
		
			 200001 15 18 
			 200102 16 18 
			 200203 17 18 
			 200304 17 18 
			 200405 17 18 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Milton Keynes expenditure is the sum of the expenditure in Milton Keynes South West and North East Milton Keynes constituencies.
	2. Expenditure is rounded to the nearest  million.
	3. Benefit expenditure and case load information is published on the internet at: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate 5 per cent. sample Department for Work and Pensions, Benefit expenditure tables.

Incapacity Benefit

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there are in Doncaster, North; how many claimants there were in each year since 1984; and what proportion of the working age population this represented in each year.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested. A breakdown of figures by parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 1997. Working-age population estimates are not available by parliamentary constituency. Figures broken down by local authorities are available from 1995 together with working-age population estimates.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants in the Doncaster, North parliamentary constituency
		
			  Number of claimants 
		
		
			 May 1997 7,600 
			 May 1998 7,100 
			 May 1999 6,600 
			 May 2000 6,100 
			 May 2001 6,300 
			 May 2002 6,200 
			 May 2003 6,100 
			 May 2004 6,000 
			 May 2005 5,600 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, five per cent. samples from 1995 to 1999 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data thereafter.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants in the Doncaster metropolitan borough council area and as a percentage of the working-age population of the borough
		
			  Number of claimants Percentage 
		
		
			 May 1995 24,100 13.8 
			 May 1996 24,500 14.1 
			 May 1997 23,500 13.5 
			 May 1998 21,800 12.6 
			 May 1999 20,300 11.8 
			 May 2000 19,500 11.3 
			 May 2001 19,900 11.6 
			 May 2002 19,600 11.3 
			 May 2003 19,300 11.1 
			 May 2004 19,100 10.9 
			 May 2005 18,300 10.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures for 1995 to 1997 have been produced using the 5 per cent. sample data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. 'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (including IB credits only cases).
	4. The population estimates used for the local authority are relevant to the dates shown above.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, five per cent. samples from 1997 to 1999 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data thereafter. ONS population estimates.

Incapacity Benefit

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Workand Pensions 
	(1)  how many claimants of incapacity benefit were medically examined in each year since 1997
	(2)  how many applicants for incapacity benefit (a) were medically examined as part of their claim and (b) received benefit in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The total number of claimants of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance who were medically examined is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Exams 
		
		
			 September 1999 to August 2000 397,284 
			 September 2000 to August 2001 402,302 
			 September 2001 to August 2002 509,831 
			 September 2002 to August 2003 524,894 
			 September 2003 to August 2004 467,256 
			 September 2004 to August 2005 483,084 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for the number of medical examinations performed are only available for complete years from September 1999.
	2. Volumes include severe disablement allowance cases which cannot be identified separately.
	Initial awards of benefit are normally made on the basis of medical evidence from a GP rather than a medical examination. Medical examinations take place at a later date, according to the person's condition and likely duration of incapacity, to decide whether or not they remain incapable of work and whether or not benefit can continue. Income support may continue for other reasons after a person has been found to be no longer incapable of work.
	Information about how many of the people examined were receiving benefits is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Independent Living Taskforce

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Independent Living Task Force will be established; whether it will include expertise on the provision of housing for disabled people in its membership; what its terms of reference will be; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Prime Minister's strategy unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People, a copy of which is in the Library, recommended a Task Force should be established by December 2005. We are now planning to establish a Task Force for independent living by spring 2006. This has enabled us to focus immediate activity on setting up an office for disability issues and selecting an advisory group to inform the development of a national forum for organisations of disabled people. The membership and terms of reference of the Task Force will be announced when it is established.

Jobcentre Plus

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision is made for (a) notification and (b) consultation before the closure of a Jobcentre Plus office.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding notification and consultation on office closures. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	All office closures are currently managed as part of the rollout of the new Jobcentre Plus service. Consultation with local stakeholders is an integral part of the planning process for rollout. Local managers are required to share their early plans for new service delivery arrangements with a wide range of local stakeholders and the communication will describe any proposals for site closures. The manager replies to comments and views received during the consultation. We try to respond positively to alternative proposals, but we do have to operate an efficient service and I am sure you will understand that we are not always in a position to meet everyone's expectations.
	Jobcentre Plus managers write again to inform stakeholders of firm plans, explaining if necessary why they may have changed from those initially circulated and will also explain the reasons behind the changes. Where a site is planned for closure, the manager will write again around six weeks before the site closes to remind stakeholders of the new arrangements being put in place.
	The consultation process is a mandatory one that takes place before implementation activity progresses into a detailed design phase. The consultation exercise should be seen in the context of broader ongoing communications with stakeholders as part of our routine business.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobcentres including Jobcentre Plus offices, have (a) opened, (b) closed and (c) been relocated in each of the past three years.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of offices we have opened, closed and re-located in the past three years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The information on the number of offices that have opened and closed each year can be found in the table below.
	
		Operational year (April to March)
		
			  200203 200304 200405 2005(18) 
		
		
			 Offices opened 157 223 115 112 
			 Offices closed 2,3105 130 59 
		
	
	(18) From 1 April 2005 to 4 November 2005.
	(19) A combined closure figure is given for 200203 and 200304 as it is not possible to accurately separate figures for these years.
	(20) From 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2004.
	The number of offices opened includes those sites we have refurbished and sites we have built from new or newly acquired. We do not have figures for the number of offices being relocated because we are closing Jobcentres and social security offices and introducing an entirely new Jobcentre Plus service supported by new processes and modern IT and telephony. Where a site is closing, our staff are likely to relocate to the new offices and contact centres. This has occurred in Daventry where the former Jobcentre has closed to be replaced by a Jobcentre Plus office in a new location.
	The total number of offices opened to date to support delivery of the new service is 663. This total includes the original 56 Pathfinder offices opened in the autumn of 2001. Rollout will be substantially complete next summer. When complete, customers will have access to our service in around 1,000 locations. Around 880 of these will be Jobcentre Plus sites. The remainder will be locations where we deliver services in conjunction with partner organisations. This flexible approach to service delivery might, for example, include locating a touch-screen Jobpoint and telephone in Local Authority premises, or delivering information and advisory services through third party premises.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation with customers was undertaken prior to implementation of Jobcentre Plus's Customer Management System.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what consultation with customers was undertaken prior to the implementation of the Customer Management System (CMS). This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	It may be helpful if I explain that CMS is an Information Technology system used by staff in our contact centres to gather information from customers when they make a claim to benefit. To make a claim the customer calls a contact centre where CMS is used. Contact centre staff ask the customer a series of questions to assess their potential eligibility to Jobcentre Plus benefits and then arrange to call the customer back at a mutually agreed time, to assist in completion of a claim form. This removes the need for customers to complete a lengthy claim form and instead allows the customer to provide information by telephone.
	Jobcentre Plus did not consult with customers about the introduction of CMS as it is an IT system used by staff. However, we do conduct an annual customer satisfaction survey which canvasses the views of our customers across the full range of our services, including the channels we provide. The surveys give us a clear picture of how our services are perceived by customers, including how well delivered they are, and how easy or difficult they are to access. These provide baseline information on customer expectations and satisfaction and also provide the basis for tracking, over time, how customer perceptions of the service change as Jobcentre Plus implementation is rolled out, helping to drive the process of performance improvement.
	The results of the 2004 survey were published on 30th September 2004. The 2005 survey commenced in September. In addition, representatives from Jobcentre Plus routinely speak to groups and have meetings with stakeholders in order to better understand customer perception.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total cost has been of staff re-training associated with the implementation of Jobcentre Plus's Customer Management System to date;
	(2)  what the total cost has been of consultancy fees associated with the implementation of Jobcentre Plus's Customer Management System to date;
	(3)  what the cost has been of the Information Technology element of Jobcentre Plus's Customer Management System to date; and what the predicted final cost is;
	(4)  what the overall cost has been of implementing Jobcentre Plus's Customer Management System to date.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the costs of implementing the Customer Management System (CMS). This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The total cost of re-training staff associated with the implementation of Jobcentre Plus' CMS is 2.7m up to 31 October 2005.
	You asked about the total consultancy fees associated with the implementation of CMS. To date the Agency has spent 2.5m on consultancy support for this specific project.
	The IT element of CMS has incurred a cost to date of 205m against a predicted total cost of 289m for development and live running through to 2012/2013.
	As at 31 October 2005, the overall total cost of implementing CMS is 243.6m.
	I trust this information is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of an (a) in-bound and (b) out-bound call to contact centres using Jobcentre Plus's Customer Management System; and what the cost of each was prior to the implementation of that system.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Leslie Strathie, dated 6 December 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the cost of calls to contact centres using the Customer Management System (CMS). This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	It may be helpful if I first explain that to make a claim, the customer calls a contact centre. Contact centre staff ask the customer a series of questions to assess their potential eligibility to Jobcentre Plus benefits and then arrange to call the customer back at a mutually agreed time, to assist in completion of a claim form. This removes the need for customers to complete a lengthy claim form and instead allows the customer to provide information by telephone.
	With regard to the cost of the initial call to all Jobcentre Plus contact centres, a local BT rate 0845 number is available. Customers using mobile telephones or other landline networks are charged at their network provider's normal tariff for 0845 calls. Customers can also use warm phones in local Jobcentre Plus offices to make this call free of charge.
	The average length of the inbound call is 11 minutes. BT call prices for 0845 numbers vary dependant on the time the customer calls, and can range from 1p to 3p per minute. Based on this information the cost of the inbound call would be on average between 11p and 33p.
	In order to gather all the information for the customers claim to benefit, the outbound call is made from the contact centre to the customer. There is no cost to the customer for this call.
	Prior to implementation of CMS, customers wishing to claim social security benefits were required to either telephone a local office, or visit an office to request a claim form. It would then be necessary for them to complete the form and return it by post or take it back to an office. If there was any need for further information, forms would be sent back to customers, who would then need to re-submit them, prior to their entitlement to benefit being established. Individual customer circumstances vary, as did standards of self-completion of forms and, therefore, the cost of this process for individual customers would vary greatly. It would particularly depend on the extent to which further information was needed following initial submission of claim forms.
	I hope this is helpful.

Learndirect

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been referred by Jobcentre Plus to (a) learndirect and (b) private sector organisations for the supply of equivalent training; what proportion of each have (i) returned to employment and (ii) re-registered for jobseeker's allowance within 12 months; and what evaluation he has conducted of the effectiveness of learndirect courses in fitting people for employment.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested in not available.
	At local level, Jobcentre Plus works in partnership with many different intermediary organisations that can help jobless people move from welfare to work and independence. University for Industry (Ufi) learndirect is one such organisation. Ufi learner surveys show that over 80 per cent. of jobseekers feel their learndirect learning will lead to a new job.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on in-house training on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy (i) in total and (ii) per head in each year since 2002.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not available.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees in his Department requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2002.

Anne McGuire: To date some 1,435 staff have takenscreening tests offered by Union Learning RepresentativesULRs. The information available does not allow us to identify how many of those screened requested help to improve their literacy or numeracy skills in particular.
	Not all staff will approach ULRs for support. Learning needs may be identified during the course of the bi-annual review, for all staff, of their Personal Development Plan with their line manager. Figures are not available for the number of staff requesting help with their literacy or numeracy skills via this route.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to promote uptake of the national tests in adult literacy and numeracy among employees in his Department.

Anne McGuire: The promotion of basic literacy and numeracy skills for all staff is integral to the Department for Work and Pensions' Skills Development Plan.
	The plan assumes that 10 per cent. of staff who choose to address a literacy or numeracy need will go on to take the national tests and subsequently demonstrate their competency to level 2 on the national qualifications framework.
	Since March 2004, basic literacy and numeracy has been the main focus of activity of the union learning representative (ULR) network that has been established within the Department. ULRs encourage staff to assess their skills and support them to address any learning need. Part of this process is to make staff aware of the availability of the national tests.
	Where provision has been made for staff to access learning to level 2 at their workplace, the national tests are also available.

Lyons Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department (a) were relocated in 200405 and (b) are expected to be relocated in 200506 as a result of the Lyons review of public sector relocation; to which locations they have been relocated; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 7 November 2005
	The basis of the department's relocation strategy resulting from the Lyons review is to relocate posts rather than people. Information on the number of posts relocated, and expected to be relocated, and the locations concerned is contained in the following tables.
	
		Posts relocated between 1 June 2003 and 31 December 2004
		
			 Number of posts Location 
		
		
			 212 Blackpool 
			 304 Cwmbran 
			 420 Liverpool 
			 551 Wrexham 
			 303 Newcastle 
			 145 Pembroke Dock 
			 40 Dundee 
			 68 Sheffield 
			 198 Makerfield 
			 77 Bradford 
			   
			 Total: 2318  
		
	
	
		Posts relocated between 1 January 2005 and 31 October 2005
		
			 Number of Posts Location 
		
		
			 26 Annesley, Grimsby, Liverpool and Peterlee 
			 225 Pembroke Dock 
			 249 Blackpool 
			 74 Plymouth, Bristol and Edinburgh 
			 80 Taunton 
			 31 Halifax 
			 40 Bridgend 
			 61 Derby 
			   
			 Total: 786  
		
	
	
		Further planned relocations from 1 November 2005 to31 March 2006(21)
		
			 Number of posts Location 
		
		
			 15 Blackpool 
			 74 Taunton 
			 73 Pembroke Dock 
			 261 Derby 
			 108 Bridgend 
			 54 Dundee 
			 25 Sheffield/Leeds 
			   
			 Total: 610  
		
	
	(21) As with all plans, these are subject to change.

Milton Keynes / Hemel Hempstead

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Workand Pensions how much funding was allocated by his Department to Milton Keynes for (a) capital projects and (b) revenue funding in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding was allocated by his Department to Hemel Hempstead constituency for (a) capital projects and (b) revenue funding in each of the last eight years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available to the requested level of detail. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer provided by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 1 November 2005, Official Report, column 988W.

National Minimum Wage

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees in his Department were affected by the rise in the national minimum wage on 1 October.

Anne McGuire: There are no staff within the Department for Work and Pensions who were affected by the rise in the national minimum wage.

New Deal

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the introduction of quarterly interviews for lone parents of children over 14 years under the New Deal programme; how many departmental staff are involved in these interviews; and what funding has been allocated.

Margaret Hodge: Quarterly work focused interviews (WFIs) were introduced in October 2005 for lone parents claiming income support (IS) with a youngest child aged at least 14. For lone parents who remain on IS until their youngest child reaches 16, this will involve a series of up to eight work focused interviews over a two year period, which is six more than under previous arrangements. The interviews aim to help as many lone parents as possible move into work, or closer to the labour market, before their child reaches 16 by providing information, advice and guidance on work opportunities and the range of help on offer.
	We estimate a total expenditure of approximately 4.3 million on this initiative during 200506, 0.7 million of which represents the cost of an anticipated increased participation in new deal for lone parents resulting from the WFIs.
	Potentially all Jobcentre Plus lone parent advisers could be involved in delivering these quarterly work focussed interviews, but funding for the initiative is based on a planning assumption of the equivalent of an additional 65 full-time staff for the period October 2005 to March 2006 or 130 for a full year.
	Note:
	1. Expenditure and staffing figures are planning assumptions based on anticipated volumes of lone parents participating in quarterly WFIs.

Office for Disability Issues

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Office for Disability Issues will be established; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Office for Disability Issues was launched on 1 December. The Office for Disability Issues will provide a new cross-Government focus on disability, helping to ensure that Government Departments work together more effectively to deliver improved outcomes for disabled people.

Older Workers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to encourage employers to employ older workers.

Margaret Hodge: We are encouraging employers to employ older workers through our Age Positive campaign and with leading business organisations through the Be Ready guidance campaign.
	Age Positive is using publications, websites, exhibitions and awards initiatives to promote good practice standards. Employers large and small are supporting Age Positive as Champions, sharing their positive employment practices, and reporting the business benefits of employing older workers as part of an age-diverse workforce-higher retention rates, lower absenteeism, increased motivation, greater flexibility and a wider pool of skills.
	We are working with leading business organisations in the Age Partnership Group to develop and promote the 'Be Ready' national guidance campaign. We launched the campaign in May this year, with a newsletter mailed to 1.4 million employers offering a range of guidance materials. Next spring we will be offering a further wave of guidance products. We will continue working alongside our business partners, such as ACAS, to help employers to prepare for age legislation, which is due in October 2006.
	The Be Ready and Age Positive websites, featuring practical information and employer case studies, are attracting over 100,000 visits per month.

Pension Reform

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the latest report of the Pensions Commission; and if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for pension reform.

Stephen Timms: The Government welcome the broad framework of the Pensions Commission's proposals and options and believe they are the right basis for the debate to come.
	As far as the specific recommendations are concerned, the Government are ruling nothing in and nothing out. Ministers have asked the Pensions Commission to continue their involvement in the public debate over the next few months. The Government will work towards the publication of a White Paper in the spring which will set out their response.

Pensioners

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales (i) are of pensionable age and (ii) receive a state pension; and what the equivalent figures were in (A) 1992, (B) 1996, (C) 1997, (D) 1998, (E) 2001 and (F) 2004.

Margaret Hodge: Such information as is available is in the following tables.
	
		Southend-on-Sea local authority
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Pensioner population 34,900 34,500 34,300 34,400 34,300 n/a 
			 People receiving a state pension 33,500 33,300 33,600 33,400 33,300 33,200 
		
	
	
		Essex
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Pensioner population 251,100 253,800 257,400 261,300 265,800 n/a 
			 People receiving a state pension 244,000 246,200 249,300 253,500 257,900 261,600 
		
	
	
		Hertfordshire
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Pensioner population 179,800 180,700 181,700 183,400 184,800 n/a 
			 People receiving a state pension 176,500 175,800 177,100 178,800 180,600 182,200 
		
	
	
		London Government office region
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Pensioner population 1,042,600 1,037,700 1,031,900 1,035,700 1,033,100 n/a 
			 People receiving a state pension 971,600 967,500 961,000 957,100 953,600 950,200 
		
	
	
		England and Wales
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Pensioner population 9,577,600 9,623,300 9,685,100 9,785,600 9,882,100 n/a 
			 People receiving a state pension 9,227,900 9,271,700 9,320,100 9,403,600 9,505,100 9,593,400 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	Notes:
	1. State pension age is 60 for a woman and 65 for a man. State pension does not have to be claimed at state pension age. A person can also stop claiming it once they have claimed it.
	2. A woman may not be entitled to a state pension based on her own national insurance contributions when she reaches her state pension age. She may be able to get a state pension based on her husband's contribution record but will have to wait until he starts claiming it.
	3. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics (ONS) postcode directory.
	4. The figures for March 2000 and March 2001 are based on data from the 5 per cent. samples. These figures have been adjusted to make their totals consistent with the later WPLS data. These figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	5. The figures for May 2002 to May 2005 are directly from the WPLS 100 per cent. data.
	6. The pensioner population figures are the ONS mid-year population estimates.
	7. All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	8. The data are taken from extracts of PSCS as at 31 March and 31 May for the appropriate years.
	9. The total figures for Hertfordshire and Essex are composed of the sum of the relevant local authorities shown in notes 10 and 11. Due to overlap in geographical boundaries, these figures may not include all cases within these counties.
	10. The local authorities for Essex are: Basildon; Braintree; Brentwood; Castle Point; Chelmsford; Colchester; Epping Forest; Harlow; Maldon; Rochford; Tendring; Uttlesford.
	11. The local authorities for Hertfordshire are: Broxbourne; Dacorum; East Hertfordshire; Hertsmere; North Hertfordshire; St Albans; Stevenage; Three Rivers; Watford; Welwyn Hatfield.
	12. The pensioner population is defined as the sum of all females aged 60 or over and all males aged 65 or over.
	Source:
	DWP Information DirectorateWork and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data and 5 per cent. samples. Office for National Statistics Mid-year population estimates.

Pensioners

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of pensioners were eligible for (a) housing benefit, (b) council tax benefit and (c) pension credit on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the forecasted figures are for 2050 assuming that eligibility rules remain the same.

Stephen Timms: The latest estimates of the number and proportion of pensioners entitled to the main income-related benefits relate to financial year 200203 (before the introduction of pension credit). Estimates for housing benefit, council tax benefit and minimum income guaranteethe predecessor to pension credit can be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 200203. Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	Estimates of the number of people entitled to pension credit will be published on 19 December 2005 and will include the first six months of pension credit. Estimates for the full year 200405 are expected to be published in May 2006.
	The numbers entitled to income-related benefits in the future will depend on a wide range of factors including the ways Governments choose to uprate benefits. The following table shows entitlement estimates if the current uprating approaches are continued in the future.
	
		Table 1: Indicative estimates of entitlement to income related benefits in 2050
		
			  Entitled households (million) Entitled individuals (individual) Proportion of individuals over pension age entitled (percentage) 
		
		
			 Pension credit 8.8 12.3 70 
			 Housing benefit 2.0 2.4 15 
			 Council tax benefit 5.1 6.8 40 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Entitlement estimates are subject to a wide range of uncertainty; they are rounded to the nearest 100,000 and the proportions of individuals over pension age are rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.
	2. Individuals entitled include a small number of partners below state pension age.
	3. The pension credit projections assume the continuation of the current uprating of the standard minimum guarantee by earnings, although the Government is not committed to this beyond 2008.
	4. Estimates of the number of households and individuals eligible for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit in the future are available for Great Britain. These are based on a long term version of the Department's Policy Simulation Model, which uses Family Resources Survey data for 200304 projected forward into the future to estimate the extent of eligibility for each pensioner household on the survey.

Pensioners

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Beverley and Holderness received overpayments of pension credits in 200304; what the total sum overpaid was; and how much of this has been written off.

Stephen Timms: One person was overpaid pension credit in the Beverley and Holderness constituency during the financial year 200304, amounting to 126.82. Information relating to the amount written off is not available at the constituency level.

Pensioners

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has evaluated on the long-term sustainability of pension credit.

Stephen Timms: The long-term sustainability of pension credit depends on the decisions of successive Governments about the level at which it is set and the entitlement rules that apply. However, the Government have undertaken to increase the guarantee credit in line with average earnings until 2008.

Pensioners

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the East Riding of Yorkshire were entitled to pension credit in the most recent month for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.
	The latest available estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to the main income-related benefits relate to financial year 200203 and predate the introduction of pension credit. They are available on a national basis only, as estimates cannot be reliably disaggregated into lower geographies. Estimates for minimum income guaranteethe predecessor to pension creditcan be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002/2003. Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	Estimates for pension credit will be published on 19 December 2005; this publication will include the first six months of pension credit. Estimates for the full year 200405 are expected to be published in May 2006.

Pensioners

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Tamworth constituency were entitled to an income-related benefit in each year since 1997; and what proportion of pensioners claimed this benefit in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.
	Estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to the main income-related benefits are available on a national basis only. These can be found in the DWP report series: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up; copies of which are held in the Library.
	The following table contains the number of pensioners in receipt of pension credit introduced in October 2005.
	
		Pension credit recipients in the parliamentary constituency of Tamworth
		
			  Number of recipients 
		
		
			 October 2003 2,600 
			 October 2004 3,800 
			 June 2005 3,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest hundred therefore totals may not sum.
	2. Pension credit (PC) replaced minimum income guarantee (MIG) on 6 October 2003. Existing MIG recipients were automatically converted onto pension credit on that date (assuming they still met the eligibility criteria)
	3. Data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS) 100 per cent. scans taken on 17 October 2003, 15 October 2004 and 10 June 2005. All figures have been rated up to give month-end estimates.
	4. These figures are early estimates. Operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in the figures. The final figures incorporated within the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) will take account of such cases.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate 100 per cent. data

Pensions

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at what age (a) male and (b) female civil servants become eligible for the state pension.

Stephen Timms: The state pension age for all citizens is 65 for men and 60 for women born on or before 5 April 1950. However, from 2010 the state pension age for women will begin to increase and will equalise at age 65 by 2020 for all citizens.

Pensions

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many female pensioners in East Lothian are in receipt of the full basic state pension.

Stephen Timms: The number of female pensioners in the East Lothian parliamentary constituency who are in receipt of a full basic state pension as at 31 March 2005 is 6,000.
	Notes:
	1. Data are taken from five per cent. extract of Pension Service computer system, therefore figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation. They are also adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pension Longitudinal Study.
	2. The figure for the number of recipients is rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. A full basic state pension (79.60 in 200405) is paid to those who fully satisfy the contribution conditions either in their own right or where applicable, on the basis of their late or former spouse's contributions.
	4. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate five per cent sample.

Pensions

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many female pensioners in Paisley and Renfrewshire, North are in receipt of the full basic state pension.

Stephen Timms: The number of female pensioners in the Paisley and Renfrewshire, North parliamentary constituency who are in receipt of a full basic state pension as at 31 March 2005 is 5,200.
	Notes: 1. Data are taken from five per cent. extract of Pension Service computer system, therefore figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation. They are also adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pension Longitudinal Study.
	2. The figure for the number of recipients is rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. A full basic state pension (79.60 in 200405) is paid to those who fully satisfy the contribution conditions either in their own right or where applicable, on the basis of their late or former spouse's contributions.
	4. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate five per cent. sample.

Pensions

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the minimum income guarantee was for pensioners in each of the five years before it was replaced; and what the value of the pension credit has been in each year since its inception.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the tables.
	
		1998 to 2003 Income support/minimum income guarantee -- 
		
			  Single Couple 
			  6074 years 7579 years 80 years and over 6074 years 7579 years 80 years and over 
		
		
			 April   
			 1998 70.45 72.70 77.55 109.35 112.55 117.90 
			 1999 75.00 77.30 82.25 116.60 119.85 125.30 
			 2000 78.45 80.85 86.05 121.95 125.35 131.05 
			 2001 92.15 92.15 92.15 140.55 140.55 140.55 
			 2002 98.15 98.15 98.15 149.80 149.80 149.80 
			 2003 102.10 102.10 102.10 155.80 155.80 155.80 
		
	
	Note:
	From April 2001 the rates were levelled up (to the previous over 80/disabled level) and income support for people over 60 became 'MIG'.
	
		Pension creditguarantee credit -- 
		
			  Single Couple 
		
		
			 October 2003 102.10 155.80 
			 April 2004 105.45 160.95 
			 April 2005 109.45 167.05 
		
	
	Note:
	Pension credit was introduced from October 2003.

Predictive Diallers

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls were made from call centres in his Department in 200405 using predictive diallers; how many such calls resulted in contact being made with the recipient without a Government agent available to talk to them; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact of Ofcom's policy on silent calls on the use of predictive diallers in departmental call centres.

Anne McGuire: No DWP contact centres currently use predictive diallers.
	One of DWP's debt management centres did use a predictive dialling system during 200405. The total volume of calls made using the predictive dialling system is not available, nor are figures available for the number of 'silent calls' members of the public would have received as a result of the use of this system. This system was withdrawn from use in April 2005 in preparation for a new IT system.
	Debt management have reviewed the position in light of Ofcom's policy on silent calls. A new telephony system is due for operational implementation in debt management from January 2006. Current plans are that predictive dialling will then be replaced by outbound dialling campaigns in which the system will only make an outbound call if an agent is available to take that call.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what occasions since 1997 Ministers from his Department have (a) authorised parliamentary counsel to assist in preparing amendments to private Members' Bills on behalf of other private Members and (b) authorised officials to instruct parliamentary counsel to prepare amendments which were subsequently passed to private Members.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Retread Tyres

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Anne McGuire: All vehicles used by departmental officials are supplied in accordance with the Departmental Procurement Policy and are fitted with new tyres.
	Cars used by Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and the chief executive of Jobcentre plus are provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA). For information on the use of retread tyres on vehicles provided to the Department by the GCDA I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October 2005 which he received from the chief executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087  UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Staff Relocations

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2479W, what plans there are to relocate staff to frontline duties between 200405 and 200809.

Anne McGuire: As part of the Department's plans to meet the efficiency challenge, we are increasing the number of posts that have regular, direct contact with customers by 10,000 by March 2008, The increase in posts will occur principally within Jobcentre Plus and they will be resourced through a combination of existing staff within the Department and new recruits. As at the end of September 2005, the Department had created and resourced around 4,000 new customer-facing posts.

Telephone Helplines

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone calls were made to each helpline operated by the Department and its agencies in each month from April 2003 to September 2005; and how many of these calls (a) received an engaged tone, (b) were abandoned by the caller, (c) were handled and (d) had another outcome; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Video Conferencing Units

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans he has to increase the number.

Anne McGuire: The information is as follows:
	(a) There are currently 236 video conferencing units (VC) installed across the Department, of which 214 are portable units and 22 are fixed.
	(b) A breakdown by building and agency is in the table.
	
		
			 Business/Agency Number of buildings Number of VCs installed Number of buildings with VC unit Percentage of buildings with facilities 
		
		
			 Corporate and Shared Services 57 74 30 53 
			 Job Centre Plus(22) 1,564 70 52 3 
			 The Pensions Service 69 63 31 45 
			 The Appeals Service 33 15 12 36 
			 Child Support Agency 146 13 10 7 
			 Debt Management 17 1 1 6 
			 Total 1,886 236 136 7 
		
	
	(22) VC figures for Disability and Carers Service are now included in the totals for Job Centre Plus, since the VC units concerned are administered together.
	Some buildings are occupied by more than one business unit so may have been counted more than once. All of our business units are free to utilise the VC facilities across all sites. Some offices have more than one unit installed.
	There are no current plans to increase the number of video conferencing units further across the Department.

HEALTH

Ashford and St. Peter's NHS Trust

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will assess the impact of the delay in the implementation of payment by results on the financial position of Ashford and St. Peters' NHS Trust;
	(2)  if she will assess the cumulative impact of the delay in implementation of payment by results for non-foundation hospitals on the aggregate financial position of NHS trusts within the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority area.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

Blood Stocks

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the level of blood stocks available to NHS hospitals in (a) Southend Primary Care Trust area and (b) England.

Caroline Flint: The NHS Blood and Transplant Authority (NHSBT) 1 is responsible for managing blood supplies in England and North Wales.
	Blood stocks are currently good and NHSBT have been meeting demand for blood from hospitals. All NHSBT stock is available to any hospital in England and North Wales. Blood stocks are continually reviewed and redistributed as necessary across the country to ensure that all orders for blood are met.
	The table shows red cell stocks as at 30 November 2005.
	1 From 1 October, the National Blood Service and UK Transplant were merged to form the new organisation NHSBT.
	
		Total red blood cell stocks
		
			  Red cell stocks 
		
		
			 Number of validated units 38,875 
			 Equivalent number of days supply 6.10 
		
	
	In addition to NHSBT stocks, each hospital blood bank will keep an appropriate

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat training is provided to ambulance personnel on identifying injury caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Liam Byrne: Ambulance emergency medical technician and paramedic qualifying training includes recognition and treatment of poisoning, including reference to carbon monoxide. It is also covered by the clinical practice guidelines for use in United Kingdom ambulance services, produced by the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee.

Care Homes

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will bring forward legislation to provide security of tenure in (a) local authority and (b) other publicly funded care homes; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: It is important for people who need and want residential care to be accommodated in appropriate settings. Homes may close for different reasons, including deregistration of poor quality homes. It is also only appropriate for a person to remain in a care home for as long as it meets their needs. It would not therefore be practicable or appropriate to give care home residents security of tenure.
	We are concerned to ensure that residents' rights and welfare are protected when home closures take place or residents need to move to a new home, by ensuring care home contracts are fair and local authorities have procedures in place to ensure care home closures are handled with the minimum of disturbance.

Cheshire and Mersey Strategic Health Authority

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what opportunities will be afforded to hon. Members to influence the reconfiguration plans of Cheshire and Mersey strategic health authority.

Liam Byrne: The Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority (SHA) reports that all hon. Members in the area have been sent details of the work being undertaken to enable all NHS trusts in its area to achieve foundation trust status. This includes the aims and objectives of the work it is taking forward. Arrangements are also in place for the SHA chief executive to meet with hon. members so that they have the opportunity to raise issues and discuss progress with her directly.

Chief Medical Officer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what overseas visits the Chief Medical Officer has made in the last two years; where his interests are recorded; what meetings he has had with the Prime Minister in the last two years; and which of the chief scientific advisers to Government Departments he has met in the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Details of overseas visits made by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, during the period 1 November 2003 until 31 October 2005 are shown in table 1.
	His meetings with the Prime Minister in the same period and his meetings with the chief scientific advisers to Government Departments during the period 1 November 2004 until 31 October 2005 are set out in table 2. In the day-to-day progress of his work the CMO meets or hears the views of a wide range of scientists who advise Government Departments on policy and risk. These extensive contacts have not been itemised.
	His interests are recorded on the Department of Health's Register of Interests, held by the Department's Senior Civil Service Unit.
	
		Table 1
		
			 Date Destination Event CMO's role 
			 2003
		
		
			 2021 November Rome European Union (EU) CMC's meeting UK Representative 
			 
			 2004
			 1923 January Geneva World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board Meeting Head of UK delegation 
			 24 February ( day) Madrid Spanish Ministry of Health: Launch of Agency for Quality Keynote Speaker 
			 1112 March Dublin EU CMO's meeting UK Representative 
			 2526 March Dublin Medical Director Representatives Meeting Keynote Speaker 
			 26 April Washington, DC Meeting of Academic Medical Centers UK Representative 
			 30 April Geneva UK bilateral accountability meeting with the World Health Organization Head of UK delegation 
			 11 May Reykjavik Sixth Futures Forum, European Meeting Keynote Speaker 
			 1521 May Geneva World Health Assembly Head of UK delegation 
			 29 May to 2 June New York International Meeting on Obesity Keynote Speaker 
			 10 June Rotterdam 200 years of Health Law Conference Keynote Speaker 
			   Fact-finding visit to Erasmus Hospital, Rotterdam, addressing MRSA issues  
			 2324 June Dublin Royal College of Surgeons Meeting Keynote Speaker 
			   WHO Expert Meeting on Patient Safety Chair 
			 1419 July New York Commonwealth Fund Meeting Head of UK delegation 
			 2526 July Poland Council of Europe and Polish Society for Quality Conference Keynote Speaker 
			 67 September Copenhagen WHO European (EURO) Regional Committee Meeting Head of UK delegation and Meeting Chair 
			 1419 September Shanghai WHO Western Pacific (WPRO) Regional Committee Meeting Head of UK delegation 
			   First Meeting of the World Alliance for Patient Safety (jointly organised by the Chinese Ministry and WPRO) Chair 
			 22 October Amsterdam International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) Meeting Keynote Speaker 
			 2629 October Washington, DC Commonwealth Fund Meeting Accompanying the UK Minister 
			   Launch of the World Alliance for Patient Safety Chair 
			 1618 November The Hague EU CMO's Meeting UK Representative 
			 2428 November Kuwait WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Patient Safety Conference Keynote Speaker 
			 2005
			 1620 January Africa WHO-organized visit to Kenya and South Africa Head of delegation 
			 2325 January Geneva WHO Executive Board Meeting Head of UK delegation 
			 1618 March Luxembourg EU CMO's Meeting UK Representative 
			 5 April Luxembourg EU Presidency Conference on Patient Safety Keynote Speaker 
			 6 April Brussels EU Health Subgroup Meeting Chair 
			 8 April Paris World Health Congress Keynote Speaker 
			 14 April Warsaw Council of Europe Meeting Keynote Speaker 
			 29 April Geneva WHO Expert Meeting on Infection Control and Hand Hygiene Keynote Speaker 
			 1519 May Geneva World Health Assembly Head of UK delegation 
			 910 June San Diego, CA Institute for Healthcare Improvement Conference on Patient Safety Keynote Speaker 
			 2225 August East Coast, USA Series of fact-finding hospital visits  
			   Launch of the WHO Collaborating Center on Safety Solutions Chair 
			   Harvard Quality Colloquium Keynote Speaker 
			 1213 September Romania WHO European Regional Committee Meeting Head of UK delegation 
			 l6 September Stockholm National Conference on Patient Safety Keynote Speaker 
			 26 September Geneva International Meeting on Drug Monitoring Centres Keynote Speaker 
			 67 October Austria EU, Gastein Summit Head of Delegation 
			 13 October Geneva Launch of Global Patient Safety Challenge Keynote Speaker 
			 29 October to 5 November USA Yale Conference on Chronic Diseases Keynote Speaker Fact-finding visit 
			   Yale School of Public Health Chair and Keynote Speaker 
			   Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality/ WHO Research Summit Head of UK delegation 
			   Commonwealth Fund 2005 International Symposium Meeting with President 
			   American Hospital Association Institute of Medicine Meeting with President 
		
	
	The Chief Medical Officer had contact with the Prime Minister in the period 1 November 2003 until 31 October 2005 as follows:
	
		
			 Date Type of contact Topic 
		
		
			 15 October 2005 Telephone call Pandemic flu 
			 20 October 2005 Meeting Pandemic flu 
		
	
	The Chief Medical Officer had contact with the Chief Scientific Advisers in the period 1 November 2004 until 31 October 2005 as follows:
	David HarperChief Scientist, Department of Health
	Sir David KingChief Scientific Adviser, Department of Trade  Industry
	Debby ReynoldsChief Veterinary Officer, Department for Environment Food  Rural Affairs
	
		
			 Date of Meeting Chief Scientific Adviser 
		
		
			 4 October 2004 David Harper 
			 4 October 2004 David Harper 
			 7 October 2004 David Harper 
			 11 October 2004 David Harper 
			 13 October 2004 David Harper 
			 13 October 2004 David Harper 
			 18 October 2004 David Harper 
			 18 October 2004 David Harper 
			 19 October 2004 David Harper 
			 1 November 2004 David Harper 
			 3 November 2004 David Harper 
			 3 November 2004 David Harper 
			 3 November 2004 David Harper 
			 8 November 2004 David Harper 
			 9 November 2004 David Harper 
			 10 November 2004 David Harper 
			 15 November 2004 David Harper 
			 19 November 2004 David Harper 
			 19 November 2004 David Harper 
			 22 November 2004 David Harper 
			 22 November 2004 David Harper 
			 6 December 2004 David Harper 
			 6 December 2004 David Harper 
			 13 December 2004 David Harper 
			 13 December 2004 David Harper 
			 14 December 2004 David Harper 
			 15 December 2004 Sir David King 
			 15 December 2004 David Harper 
			 5 January 2005 David Harper 
			 10 January 2005 David Harper 
			 10 January 2005 David Harper 
			 12 January 2005 David Harper 
			 19 January 2005 David Harper 
			 21 January 2005 David Harper 
			 31 January 2005 David Harper 
			 31 January 2005 David Harper 
			 2 February 2005 David Harper 
			 2 February 2005 David Harper 
			 7 February 2005 David Harper 
			 14 February 2005 David Harper 
			 15 February 2005 Debby Reynolds 
			 22 February 2005 Sir David King 
			 22 February 2005 David Harper 
			 23 February 2005 David Harper 
			 1 March 2005 David Harper 
			 3 March 2005 David Harper 
			 10 March 2005 David Harper 
			 14 March 2005 David Harper 
			 14 March 2005 Sir David King 
			 4 April 2005 David Harper 
			 19 April 2005 David Harper 
			 20 April 2005 David Harper 
			 20 April 2005 David Harper 
			 25 April 2005 David Harper 
			 26 April 2005 David Harper 
			 3 May 2005 David Harper 
			 4 May 2005 David Harper 
			 9 May 2005 David Harper 
			 1 June 2005 David Harper 
			 1 June 2005 David Harper 
			 20 June 2005 David Harper 
			 21 June 2005 David Harper 
			 27 June 2005 David Harper 
			 30 June 2005 David Harper 
			 30 June 2005 David Harper 
			 4 July 2005 David Harper 
			 6 July 2005 David Harper 
			 8 July 2005 David Harper 
			 13 July 2005 Sir David King 
			 13 July 2005 David Harper 
			 13 July 2005 David Harper 
			 14 July 2005 Sir David King 
			 18 July 2005 David Harper 
			 18 July 2005 David Harper 
			 19 July 2005 David Harper 
			 26 July 2005 Sir David King 
			 27 July 2005 Sir David King 
			 29 July 2005 David Harper 
			 30 August2005 David Harper 
			 5 September 2005 David Harper 
			 6 September 2005 Sir David King 
			 23 September 2005 David Harper 
			 30 September 2005 David Harper 
			 10 October 2005 David Harper 
			 10 October 2005 David Harper 
			 14 October 2005 Debby Reynolds 
			 14 October 2005 David Harper 
			 17 October 2005 David Harper 
			 18 October 2005 David Harper 
			 20 October 2005 Sir David King 
			 20 October 2005 Sir David King 
			 21 October 2005 David Harper 
			 21 October 2005 David Harper 
			 24 October 2005 David Harper 
			 28 October 2005 David Harper 
			 28 October 2005 Debby Reynolds 
			 Other  
			 24 February 2005 Dinner for Chief Scientific Advisers for all Government Departments

Children's Hospices

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding children's hospices received in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect information on the funding of children's hospices and palliative care services for children.
	Children's hospice services are funded from a number of sources, including services commissioned by primary care trusts based on their assessment of children's needs and their priorities. They are best placed to make decisions on the local need for palliative care and are able to take into account the needs of individual families' and their preferences. There is no ceiling to the amount of funding which the national health service can provide.
	The Department continues to encourage children's hospices to engage actively with local NHS bodies over the contribution hospices can make to the overall pattern of palliative care commissioned for children and young people in their localities.
	Our manifesto pledge to increase funding for end of life care will also include children who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.

Contagious Diseases

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans her Department has in place to prevent individuals who have contracted a highly contagious disease from passing that disease to others.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 1 December 2005
	The national health service has facilities and procedures in place for caring for people with infectious diseases in ways which minimise the risk of infecting others, and a wide range of advice is available to the public on how they can avoid spreading infection. In cases of last resort, local authorities have powers in certain circumstances under infectious disease legislation to apply to a justice of the peace for orders requiring a person suffering from a specified disease to be removed to, and detained in, hospital.

Contagious Diseases

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers her Department has to enforce the isolation in the interests of public safety of an individual who has contracted a contagious disease.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 1 December 2005
	Powers under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and associated regulations for the most part rest with local authorities. Local authorities have powers, in certain circumstances, to apply to a justice of the peace for orders requiring a person suffering from a specified disease to be removed to, and detained in, hospital (sections 37 and 38 of the Act and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988).
	The diseases specified are, in the Act: cholera, plague, relapsing fever, smallpox, and typhus; and, in the regulations, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (with section 38 applying in a modified form); acute encephalitis; acute poliomyelitis; anthrax; diphtheria; dysentery (amoebic or bacillary); leprosy; leptospirosis; measles; meningitis; meningococcal septicaemia (without meningitis); mumps; paratyphoid fever; rabies; rubella; scarlet fever; tuberculosis of the respiratory tract in an infectious state; typhoid fever; viral haemorrhagic fever; viral hepatitis; and whooping cough.

Dentistry

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of five year olds in Tamworth constituency have no decayed, filled or missing teeth.

Liam Byrne: From the last national health service survey in 20032004, 78.8 percent., of five year-old children in the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth primary care trust area were found to have no decayed, missing or filled teeth.

Departmental Legislation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by her Department from May 1997 up to and including April 2005, broken down by Act.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 11 November 2005
	For criminal offences created by legislation sponsored by the Department in the 200203 and 200304 sessions I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9 February 2005, Official Report, column 161415W to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten). The following are criminal offences created in other legislation sponsored by the Department in the period specified.
	The Health Act 1999
	Section 39evading charges payable under the new section 122C of the NHS Act 1977 or securing the inappropriate remission, reduction or repayment of any charges due under the Act
	Schedule 3, paragraph 6
	Regulation of Healthcare and Associated Professionals etcthe power to make Orders in relation to the regulation of Healthcare and Associated Professionals may not be exercised to create a criminal offence, except an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine not exceeding the amount specified as level 5 on the standard scale.
	The Food Standards Act 1999
	Section 11(7)improperly disclosing a trade secret by an authorised person entering premises to carry out observations
	Section 11(8)Intentionally obstructing an authorised person exercising powers of entry, taking samples or inspecting and copying records
	Failing without reasonable excuse to provide such assistance as the authorised person may request
	Intentionally or recklessly providing false or misleading information
	Section 14improperly disclosing a trade secret by an authorised person who has entered premises for the purposes of monitoring enforcement action.
	Section 16intentionally obstructing an authorised individual from entering relevant premises, or from taking samples, or from inspecting and copying records
	Failing without reasonable excuse to meet a reasonable request for information, records or assistance
	Intentionally or recklessly providing false or misleading information.
	Care Standards Act 2000
	Section 11(1)Carrying on, managing or establishing an agency without registration under the Care Standards Act
	Section 24Failing to comply with conditions
	Section 25Contravening regulations1
	Section 26Falsely describing establishments and agencies
	Section 27Making false statements in applications
	Section 28Failing to display certificate of registration
	Section 31Offences relating to inspections by persons authorised by registration authority
	Section 52Contravening regulations1
	Section 61Misuse of the title social worker etc
	Section 75Obstructing the work of the Children's Commissioner for Wales
	Section 79Amendment of Children Act 19891
	Section 89knowingly applying for, offering to do, accepting or doing any work in a care position when included on the list of adults deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults
	Schedule 3, paragraph 5
	Offences in relation to child-minding and day care for young children
	Health and Social Care Act 2001
	Section 60Power to make regulations relating to control of patient information1
	Section 63Extension of prescribing rights, amending section 67 of the Medicines Act 1968, inserting an offence of prescribing, directing or administering a medicinal product in contravention of a condition imposed by an order under section 58 of the Medicines Act 1968.
	Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001
	Section 1placing in a woman a human embryo which has been created otherwise than by fertilisation
	Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002
	Section 2Prohibiting tobacco advertising;
	Section 3Advertising: Newspapers, periodicals etc;
	Section 8Displays
	Section 9Prohibition of free distributions
	Section 10Prohibition of sponsorship
	Section 11Brandsharing1
	Section 15Obstruction etc of officers
	Adoption and Children Act 2002
	Section 9a power to provide for an offence in regulations1
	Section 15obstructing inspections, etc
	Section 30offences in relation to removal of children who are or may be placed by adoption agencies
	Section 31
	Section 33
	Section 34
	Section 35
	Section 36Restrictions on the removal of children in non-agency cases
	Section 41Breach of restrictions on removal
	Section 59Disclosure of information in relation to a person's adoption
	Section 83failing to comply with requirements in adoptions with a foreign element
	Section 85
	Section 93breaching restrictions under section 92 (restrictions on arranging adoptions, etc)
	Section 94breaching restrictions on who may prepare a report re adoption
	Section 95making or receiving certain payments
	Section 124Breaching restrictions on advertising in relation to adoption (section 123)
	Section 129Inappropriate disclosure of information on the Adoption and Children Act Register
	Section 132Amendment of Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978, new section 29A, breaching of various enactments of the Adoption and Children Act 2002
	Section 133Amendment of Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 section 50A, breaching requirements on bringing a child into the United Kingdom.
	1 Represent provision entitling the making of regulations which may create offences.
	Note
	Offences created in subordinate legislation have not been listed.

Digital Hearing Aids

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the (a) Adur, Arun and Worthing primary care trust area, (b) West Sussex and (c) England have been fitted with a digital hearing aid through the NHS; and what estimate she has made of the numbers remaining in each area to be switched over from analogue aids.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally. The modernising hearing aid services programme estimates that approximately 500,000 people have now been fitted with digital hearing aids.

Disabled Care

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will bring forward legislation to ensure that a national standard of care is available to all disabled people based on nationally agreed criteria for assessing individual needs and risks; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There are a range of different models for assessing people's needs across different client groups and in different local authorities. In taking forward the Green Paper 'Independence, Wellbeing and Choice', we will consider the extent to which needs assessment could be streamlined.
	Under the Care Standards Act 2000, all care homes in England are regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards, to ensure consistency and improve the quality of life and level of protection for the most vulnerable people in society.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the funding of the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The Department does not allocate funding to national health service trusts. Primary care trusts (PCTs), with their specific local knowledge and expertise, are now responsible for the commissioning of all health services and, to reflect this responsibility, funding is allocated to PCTs. Funding for NHS trusts is therefore dependant on the level of services they are able to contract with commissioning PCTs.
	Significant levels of resources have been made available to the NHS. The latest round of revenue allocations to PCTs, covering the period 200607 and 200708, represents 135 billion investment in the NHS. Over the two years covered by this allocation PCTs will receive an average increase of 19.5 per cent.
	Each NHS trust has a statutory duty to break-even over a three-year period. While the financial situation for 200506 is challenging, the trust has a financial recovery plan in place and is forecasting to break-even in the current financial year.

Expenses Claims

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) hospital consultants, (b) general practitioners and (c) nurses are entitled to make an expense claim for their travelling costs to attend NHS hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The NHS Employers organisation is now responsible for maintaining and publishing pay and terms and conditions of national health service staff. The information requested can be found on their website at www.nhsemployers.org.
	For consultants appointed before 2003 details of entitlements to expenses can be found in the 2002 terms and conditions handbook for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff and Doctors in Public Health and the Community, in paragraphs 277 to 308.
	For consultants appointed after 2003 the entitlements are within the 2003 Consultant Contract, Schedule 21. Alternative provisions may be made locally.
	Copies of both sets of terms and conditions can be found in the Library.
	For those general practitioners on a general medical service contract, any payment for travelling expenses will be by agreement between the two parties concerned. There is no provision in the GMS contract relating to payment for travel expenses.
	The NHS terms and conditions handbook, which applies to staff, including nurses, employed on the new Agenda for Change pay system contains information on entitlement to expenses in chapter three. A copy is also available in the Library.

Finished Consultant Episodes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes there were in (a) 199495 and (b) 200405 where the primary diagnosis was coded as (i) F10, (ii) K70 and (iii) T51 for each strategic health authority for those aged (A) over 18, (B) those under 18, (C) those under 16 and (D) those under 14 years.

Caroline Flint: The nearest approximation to the data requested is shown in the table.
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for primary diagnosis F10, K70 or T51broken down by age and strategic health authority. Data for all NHS hospitals in England, data years 199697 and 200304
		
			 Sum of FCEs 
			   199697 
			   Age 
			 SHA  Less than 14 1416 1618 Greater than 18 Total 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 60 34 22 966 1,082 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 86 52 4 622 764 
			 Q03 Essex SHA 47 21 3 748 819 
			 Q04 North West London SHA 31 23 4 1,226 1,284 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 46 17 3 886 952 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 47 8 5 987 1,047 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 45 22 10 1,018 1,095 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 66 37 2 878 983 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 132 80 34 1,649 1,895 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 158 84 28 1,073 1,343 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 77 43 50 968 1,138 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire SHA 141 60 41 1,573 1,815 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 148 80 50 2,450 2,728 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester SHA 178 78 34 3,075 3,365 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 211 123 60 3,647 4,041 
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA 38 24 13 1,014 1,089 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 59 36 27 1,253 1,375 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA 69 40 12 858 979 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA 90 59 23 1,692 1,864 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 93 45 21 1,449 1,608 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula SHA 72 35 33 1,066 1,206 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset SHA 37 35 14 990 1,076 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire SHA 95 47 26 872 1,040 
			 Q24 Trent SHA 119 61 30 2,160 2,370 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 68 28 6 774 876 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 106 42 16 1,113 1,277 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country SHA 105 61 22 2,339 2,527 
			 Q28 West Midlands South SHA 97 63 27 1,523 1,710 
			 Q99 Wales 12 4 3 99 118 
			 S Scotland 2  1 21 24 
			 U Englandnot otherwise specified  3 3 365 371 
			 X Foreign (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 1 5 1 43 50 
			 Y Unknown 30 17 10 1,257 1,314 
			 Z Northern Ireland18 18 
			  Grand total 2,566 1,367 638 40,672 45,243 
		
	
	
		
			   200304 
			   Age 
			 SHA  Less than 14 1416 1618 Greater than 18 Total 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 89 52 19 2,193 2,353 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 83 48 7 1,136 1,274 
			 Q03 Essex SHA 40 21 8 1,234 1,303 
			 Q04 North West London SHA 51 31 10 1,770 1,862 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 33 27 3 1,214 1,277 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 56 27 7 1,505 1,595 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 48 36 12 1,729 1,825 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 73 73 7 1,223 1,376 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 71 41 15 2,062 2,189 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 75 62 16 1,544 1,697 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 153 86 31 1,644 1,914 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire SHA 121 53 27 2,061 2,262 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 152 81 41 2,816 3,090 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester SHA 211 106 34 3,854 4,205 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 205 133 49 5,368 5,755 
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA 78 37 11 1,253 1,379 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 93 70 37 1,829 2,029 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA 103 36 18 1,029 1,186 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA 155 106 17 1,822 2,100 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 94 66 27 1,795 1,982 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula SHA 110 72 43 2,000 2,225 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset SHA 46 34 12 1,016 1,108 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire SHA 56 38 16 1,498 1,608 
			 Q24 Trent SHA 140 79 23 3,034 3,276 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 56 33 11 1,482 1,582 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 126 58 6 1,567 1,757 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country SHA 139 83 40 2,833 3,095 
			 Q28 West Midlands South SHA 87 58 9 1,446 1,600 
			 Q99 Wales 10 2  151 163 
			 S Scotland 2 1 4 59 66 
			 U Englandnot otherwise specified 11 5 7 832 855 
			 X Foreign (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 2 6 4 82 94 
			 Y Unknown 15 13 4 555 587 
			 Z Northern Ireland24 24 
			  Grand total 2,784 1,674 575 55,660 60,693 
		
	
	Notes:
	F10 mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	K70alcoholic liver disease
	T51(A) toxic effect of alcohol
	1. The data only cover 200304 because the 200405 data will not be ready for release before December 2005.
	2. The data shown are only for 199697, rather than 199495, for two reasons: international classification of diseases (ICD) 10 codes as requested are not applicable for 199495 because ICD10 was only introduced in 199596. Attempts to back reference the codes to the ICD9 code list do not reveal a comparable data set. Secondly, strategic health authorities (SHAs) were introduced from 200203 and we have done a mapping exercise to apply the new boundaries back to 199697. Before this point, SHA breakdowns are not applicable. As such, 199697 has been presented as the earliest year where both diagnosis and geographical conditions can be met.

Frenchay and Southmead Hospitals

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters her Department has received regarding the proposed reconfiguration of Frenchay and Southmead hospitals; and how many of these supported the retention of Frenchay as a major acute hospital site.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 2 December 2005
	As at 22 November 2005, the Department had received 706 letters about the proposed reconfiguration of Frenchay and Southmead hospitals.
	While the majority of letters voiced general support for the retention of services at Frenchay hospital, there were many different points of views as to how this might best be achieved.

Hospital Mergers

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the potential effect the mergers of hospitals across Liverpool and Southport and Ormskirk will have on patient choice.

Liam Byrne: National health service trusts in Liverpool, Sefton, Southport and West Lancashire have begun formal discussions to review the configuration of trusts in the area in order to determine whether the current organisational structure is best placed to deliver the best possible services to meet the needs of patients. Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority advises that it has not pre-determined the outcome of the work and any conclusions will be pursued if they are demonstrably in patients' interests.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the future capital investment programme is for the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 November 2005
	The trust's confirmed capital investment programme to 200910 is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200506 30 
			 200607 (23)58 
			 200708 (24)59 
			 200809 11 
			 200910 4 
			 Total 162 
		
	
	(23) Including 25 million private finance initiative.
	(24) Including 35 million private finance initiative.
	These cost totals include the 75 million oncology and 45 million cardiac/elective surgical developments under way at Castle Hill hospital.

Hull Royal Infirmary

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acts of (a) verbal and (b) physical abuse have been recorded against staff at the Hull Royal Infirmary since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: recorded incidents, on staff, of violent attacks and assaults in the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust in each specified period
		
			   Number of reported violent incidents 
		
		
			 RWA Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust  
			  200001 246 
			  200102 401 
			  200203 336 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Covers 1 April to 31 March for the specific years.
	2. This data collection was discontinued in 2003.
	Source:
	Survey of Violence, Accidents and Harassments in the NHS

Hull Royal Infirmary

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were operational at Hull Royal infirmary in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available at hospital level.

Informal Carers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many informal carers are registered with social services departments, broken down by local authority area.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.

Intensive Care Units

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care units there were in NHS hospitals in England (a) in 2001 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect information on the hospitals which have intensive care units.

Necrotising Fasciitis

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people (a) contracted and (b) died of necrotising fasciitis in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many (a) NHS staff and (b) patients caught necrotising fasciitis in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information is not available in the format requested. The information available is as follows.
	There are two main types of necrotising fasciitis. One type caused by group A streptococci (GAS) and the other type by a mixed infection of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
	The Health Protection Agency (HPA) began a study of severe GAS infections through enhanced surveillance as part of a European surveillance initiative (strep-EURO) on 1 January 2003. Preliminary analyses show that in 2003 and in 2004, 5 per cent. of cases of severe GAS infections manifest as necrotising fasciitis. Overall, 37 per cent. of cases of necrotising fasciitis were reported to have died within seven days of initial diagnosis. Data on the occupations of cases have not yet been analysed.
	The information in table 1 is available from hospital episode statistics (HES) data. These counts only relate to admitted in-patients and do not represent the counts of all people contracted with this condition.
	
		Table 1. Number of finished consultant episodes and patients where the primary diagnosisFasciitis, not elsewhere classified (ICD-10= M72.5) in NHS hospitals in England, 199798 to 200304
		
			  Finished consultant episodes  Patient counts 
		
		
			 199798 316 219 
			 199899 362 233 
			 19992000 384 239 
			 200001 502 318 
			 200102 431 269 
			 200203 510 298 
			 200304 595 360 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2. Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) dataset and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	4. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200304, which is not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics
	The information in table 2 shows the number of deaths where necrotising fasciitis 1 was mentioned on the death certificate in England and Wales from 1997 to 20042.
	Notes:
	1 Cause of death was defined using the codes below from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) from 2001 onwards, together with a search of the death certificate text to identify deaths where necrotising fasciitis was mentioned: ICD-10-M72.5 ICD-9: 729.4
	2 Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	
		Table 2
		
			  Number of Deaths 
		
		
			 1997 97 
			 1998 103 
			 1999 109 
			 2000 125 
			 2001 110 
			 2002 112 
			 2003 160 
			 2004 130 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

NHS Finance

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have not met the requirement to break even over a five year period.

Liam Byrne: Ashford St. Peters' national health service trust is the only NHS trust that has not met the requirement to break even over a five-year period.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 266W on NHS Finance, how the size of the uplift will be calculated.

Liam Byrne: The uplift will be calculated dependant on the size of the underspend and the point at which, during the financial year, the underspend is declared.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 266W, on NHS Finance, when in the course of a financial year her Department typically set control totals for strategic health authorities.

Liam Byrne: Financial plans are agreed at the start of the financial year. Control totals are set during the year where it becomes apparent that national health service organisations are unable to deliver against their financial plans.

NHS Hospital Trusts (Public Consultation)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she issues to NHS hospital trusts concerning the nature and duration of public consultation exercises related to proposals to reconfigure services.

Liam Byrne: The Department has issued:
	Strengthening Accountability: Involving Patients and the PublicPolicy Guidance Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (February 2003) and Overview and Scrutiny of HealthGuidance (July 2003).
	These advise that it is good practice for consultation to follow Cabinet Office guidelines, which state that full consultation should last for a minimum of 12 weeks. Both documents are available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/publications.

NHS Students Grant Unit

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of bursary applications to the NHS Students Grant Unit in 2005 have failed to meet the processing target of 20 working days;
	(2)  what percentage of inquiries to the NHS Students Grant Unit in 2005 by (a) telephone, (b) writing and (c) e-mail have failed to receive a response within 20 working days;
	(3)  what procedures the NHS Students Grant Unit has in place to monitor the response rates to (a) telephone, (b) writing and (c) e-mail inquiries;
	(4)  what the average waiting time is for telephone inquiries to the NHS Students Grants Unit.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 November 2005
	The following information has been provided by the NHS Pensions Agency.
	35 per cent. of applications for bursary payments in academic year 200506 have failed to meet the processing target of 20 working days. However, as at 16 November 2005, 94 per cent. of students have been paid.
	Since the beginning of the academic year 200506, all written correspondence and telephone inquiries received by the Student Grants Unit has received a response within 20 working days. All e-mail inquiries have received an acknowledgement and update from the unit within 20 working days of receipt.
	The unit has introduced four additional e-mail addresses that are query specific, in order to filter types of inquiry and improve response times.
	The unit obtains daily and weekly reports of telephone call volumes and response rates.
	The unit collates weekly reports on volumes of written correspondence and e-mail inquiries that includes the number of those cleared, within and outside of 20 working days.
	There is technology in place that enables the unit to record telephone activity. From the start of the academic year 200506 to date, the average waiting time for telephone inquiries on hold on the student helpline number is approximately five minutes. Due to the complexity of many of the inquiries an operator spends approximately five minutes handling each call.
	There are also separate dedicated telephone lines for universities who are able to contact their designated Student Grant Unit colleagues direct.

NHS Trust Finances

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the (a) 200405 and (b) 200304 financial positions reported for each English NHS trust; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: A copy of the 200304 and 200405 audited financial positions for all national health service trusts is available in the Library.

NIHCE

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the revised proposals for a rapid appraisal system for life-saving drugs by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to be (a) issued for consultation and (b) implemented.

Jane Kennedy: I announced on 3 November 2005 proposed changes to enable the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce faster guidance on life-saving drugs. This new single technology appraisal (STA) process has already been implemented, on an interim basis, with NICE starting work on five topics as a first tranche.
	On 11 November 2005, NICE published a consultation document on the new STA process. The consultation will end on 6 February 2006. A copy of the consultation document is available on NICE's website at www.nice.org.uk.

Nurses

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take up to 200809 to recruit nurses.

Liam Byrne: The Government has substantially increased the national health service work force and numbers entering training. The number of nursing posts in the NHS continues to expandthere are over 390,000 nurses in the NHS and there are 78,660 or 25 per cent. more qualified nurses employed in the NHS than there were in 1997.
	Responsibility for recruiting and retaining the healthcare work force locally, including nurses, has been devolved to local employers. The national strategies are already in place to support trusts to recruit and retain staff, promote training and development and redesign their work forces.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is implementing to improve the provision of obesity treatment by primary care organisations.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been commissioned to prepare definitive guidance on the prevention, identification, management and treatment of obesity. This is due in early 2007.
	Meanwhile, as part of its wider obesity public service agreement programme, the Department is assisting primary care trusts (PCTs) in improving their obesity services by developing guidance on the following tools; an obesity care pathway, a tool to assist health professionals, a weight loss guide and height and weight guidance for primary school children. These will be published in December 2005-January 2006.
	As an enhanced role for better coordination between the regional tiers and sub-regional tiers of administration, the Department exercises a performance management function for strategic health authorities and PCTs.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has evaluated on the obesity treatment provided by primary care organisations.

Caroline Flint: We recently reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of obesity interventions in developing our primary care quality and outcomes framework bid for new adult obesity quality indicators. Although there is limited research on the treatment of obesity by primary care organisations preliminary indicative results from the counterweight programme, an evidence-based weight management model, show that implementation of a structured model for weight management is feasible and effective in the primary care setting. The Department has commissioned the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to prepare definitive guidance on the prevention, identification, management and treatment of obesity which is due in early 2007.

Payment by Results

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been to Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust of implementing the payment by results programme.

Jane Kennedy: There are no data available centrally that identify the cost of implementing the payment by results programme.

PCT/SHA Finances

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list in descending order the deficit or surplus of each (a) primary care trust and (b) strategic health authority at the most recent date for which the information is available; and what the change in funding per head of population since 2000 is in each case.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 November 2005
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Pension Liabilities

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of total pension liabilities in (a) England and (b) Durham following the reorganisation of primary care trusts.

Liam Byrne: The total value of pension liabilities for the NHS pension scheme as at 31 March 2005 is 127.9 billion, subject to audits.
	The NHS pension scheme covers the whole of England and Wales. A breakdown by individual organisations or area is not available as the scheme is a national scheme.

Primary Care Trusts

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the reorganisation of primary care trusts on the commissioning of specialist services, with particular reference to renal services;
	(2)  what steps are planned following the reorganisation of primary care trusts to ensure that services which may be under-prioritised by commissioners are effectively provided, with particular reference to renal services.

Liam Byrne: A review into commissioning arrangements for specialised services has been set up and asked to report in spring 2006. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, will consider the review group's recommendations at that point. A key objective of the review is to assess the potential impact of national health service system reform on specialised services, including renal services, so as to ensure that proposals keep specialised services commissioning in step with wider NHS reforms and generate consistent arrangements across the country.

Primary Care Trusts

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients from Ribble Valley were treated by Lancashire primary care trust in Lancashire hospitals in (a) 200304 and (b) 200405.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 November 2005
	The available information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes (FCE) and patients by selected providers of treatment primary care trust responsible for patient in Hyndburn and Ribble Valley and Preston national health service hospitals in England, 200304
		
			 Provider code Provider description FCE Patient counts 
		
		
			 RXL Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust 1,249 950 
			 RJX Calderstones NHS Trust 6 (25) 
			 RXR East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 32,187 17,649 
			 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 857 631 
			 RXN Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 36,820 22,638 
			 RTX Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 109 94 
		
	
	(25) Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed.
	Notes:
	1. An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2. Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier hospital episodes statistics identification (HESID). This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data is ungrossed.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Primary Care Trusts (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the likely redundancy costs of (a) reconfiguring primary care trusts (PCT) in Oxfordshire into a single PCT and (b) awarding the contracts to manage such a PCT to the private sector.

Caroline Flint: In July, we asked strategic health authorities (SHAs) to engage their stakeholders to develop proposals which could then be subject to consultation. The draft proposals from the SHAs were submitted to the Department and have been assessed by an independent external panel against published criteria. The panel has offered its initial comments to Ministers.
	These are currently being considered and we will write to SHAs shortly. No decisions on the final configuration of primary care trusts (PCTs) will be taken until after the three-month public consultation exercise, to begin in December. It would not be possible to provide accurate estimates of likely redundancy costs until the final configurations are known.
	It is important to note that Thames Valley SHA's proposal to outsource the commissioning function of the newly proposed Oxfordshire PCT will not be considered as part of the consultation process. This is because we want the new PCTs, not the existing organisations, to make decisions on how they handle their responsibilities.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to raise awareness amongst health professionals of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Liam Byrne: Estimates on the prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in England range between 20 to 90 cases per million of population. No estimates have been made for the prevalence of PSC in Gloucestershire.
	The Department is not responsible for setting curricula for health professional training. However, we do share a commitment with statutory and professional bodies that all health professionals are trained, so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to all groups of the population with whom they deal. Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.

Road Traffic Accidents

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the relationship between ambulance journey times to hospital intensive care units and survival rates following serious road traffic accidents.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 29 November 2005
	Data is not collected centrally on road traffic accidents attended by national health service ambulances and no assessment can be made of the relationship between ambulance journey times and the eventual transfer to hospital intensive care units and survival rates following serious road traffic accidents.

Social Services (Young Adults)

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many younger adult clients per 10,000 younger adults were seen by social services in (a) Inner London local authorities, (b) Outer London local authorities, (c) English metropolitan authorities outside London, (d) Wigan Metropolitan borough council area, (e) Salford city council area, (f) Knowsley metropolitan borough council area, (g) South Tyneside council area, (h) Leeds city council area and (i) Wolverhampton city council area in 200405.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the number of adults aged 18 to 64 who were assessed and/or reviewed per 10,000 population by councils with social services responsibilities (CSSRs) in 200304 for the areas requested.
	
		Number of adults aged 1864 who were assessed and/or reviewed per 10,000 population by councils in 200304
		
			 Councils with social services responsibilities Number of new clients who have been assessed(26) by councils per 10,000 population Existing clients who have been reviewed(27) by councils per 10,000 population 
		
		
			 Inner London   
			 Camden 45 55 
			 Greenwich 68 67 
			 Hackney 11 (28) 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 75 76 
			 Islington 38 33 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 125 244 
			 Lambeth 15 100 
			 Lewisham 132 114 
			 Southwark 148 146 
			 Tower Hamlets 46 111 
			 Wandsworth 33 54 
			 Westminster 65 110 
			 City of London 95 281 
			
			 Outer London   
			 Barking and Dagenham 68 137 
			 Barnet 41 26 
			 Bexley 165 205 
			 Brent 184 116 
			 Bromley 115 122 
			 Croydon 36 125 
			 Ealing 32 30 
			 Enfield 32 76 
			 Haringey 34 78 
			 Harrow 38 38 
			 Havering 13 112 
			 Hillingdon 8 49 
			 Hounslow 64 87 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 91 152 
			 Merton 45 60 
			 Newham 6 105 
			 Redbridge 51 88 
			 Richmond upon Thames 39 77 
			 Sutton 22 55 
			 Waltham Forest 83 67 
			
			 Metropolitan districts   
			 Barnsley 84 203 
			 Birmingham 60 85 
			 Bolton 95 142 
			 Bradford 48 103 
			 Bury 46 46 
			 Calderdale 25 34 
			 Coventry 63 56 
			 Doncaster 52 36 
			 Dudley 46 83 
			 Gateshead 86 78 
			 Kirklees 58 153 
			 Liverpool 39 83 
			 Manchester 43 86 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 79 80 
			 North Tyneside 66 151 
			 Oldham 94 96 
			 Rochdale 22 103 
			 Rotherham 46 79 
			 Sandwell 43 82 
			 Sefton 41 66 
			 Sheffield 95 39 
			 Solihull 31 80 
			 St. Helens 56 137 
			 Stockport 44 36 
			 Sunderland 39 162 
			 Tameside 160 277 
			 Trafford 71 81 
			 Wakefield 28 87 
			 Walsall 18 50 
			 Wirral 51 94 
			 Wigan 40 60 
			 Salford 47 60 
			 Knowsley 40 (28) 
			 South Tyneside 81 249 
			 Leeds 36 50 
			 Wolverhampton 39 60 
		
	
	(26) An assessment is defined as the first assessment for a new client. All subsequent assessments which include a reassessment will be defined as a review.
	(27) A review is an examination of the client's needs for an existing client and must include a (formal) reassessment, irrespective of whether it was a scheduled or unscheduled review.
	(28) Data not available.
	Source:
	RAP proforma Al

Specialised Services Commissioning

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how the forthcoming review of specialised services commissioning will fit into the wider reorganisation of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the review of specialised services commissioning;
	(3)  whether the recommendations from the forthcoming review of specialised services commissioning will be binding on all primary care trusts.

Liam Byrne: The review looking into commissioning arrangements for specialised services has been asked to report in spring 2006. The review will assess the potential impact of national health service system reform on specialised services and treatments, ensure that proposals keep specialised services commissioning in step with wider NHS reforms and generate consistent arrangements across the country.

Waiting Lists/Times

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been rescheduled because of lack of resources over the last eight years.

Liam Byrne: The number of rescheduled operations is not collected centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Accident Data

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether minimum data have been set for the collection of data by IT systems relating to home accidents in (a) accident and emergency departments and (b) minor injury units in Northern Ireland, as specified under Action 13 of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Home Accident Prevention Strategy 200409.

Shaun Woodward: A minimum dataset has been agreed by DHSSPS in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Northern Ireland for the collection of information by IT systems on patients who attend accident and emergency departments and minor injuries units as a result of home accidents.

Apple Production

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote apple production in County Armagh.

Angela Smith: There are no measures to promote apple production anywhere in Northern Ireland. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provides a range of support measures to existing producers throughout Northern Ireland, including financial support through the EU Producer Organisation Scheme, research and development and industry training and technology transfer programmes.

Assets Recovery

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how money recovered by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland has been distributed.

Shaun Woodward: The proceeds of all assets recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act and earlier legislation are paid to the Consolidated Fund and an element is dispersed for a variety of asset recovery purposes under the auspices of the Home Office. For example, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has received 270,000 in incentive payments under a police incentive scheme introduced in 200405. Additional financial investigators in the Police Service of Northern Ireland are also being funded with 240,000 over two years from recovered assets receipts.
	From 200607 all asset recovery agencies including the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be able to get back 50 per cent. of the assets they recover and are encouraged to invest it in boosting asset recovery.

Assets Recovery

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the money allocated to the new assets recovery incentive scheme in Northern Ireland will be distributed.

Shaun Woodward: From 200607, under a new incentive scheme all asset recovery agencies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to get back 50 per cent. of the assets they recover. There are no conditions attached on how the money should be spent but agencies are encouraged to invest a portion in boosting asset recovery and, where appropriate, in local crime fighting projects.

Autism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of individuals aged 16 years and above in the Province with autistic spectrum disorders; and how many of these are estimated to be deemed of school age.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available.

Autism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is made in the Province for those aged 16 years and above who suffer from autistic spectrum disorders.

Shaun Woodward: Health and social services boards and trusts provide a range of mainstream and specialist health care services for children and adults with autism including diagnostic and assessment services, family support services, respite services, date care services, befriending schemes, mental health services, learning disability services and specialist services contracted from voluntary organisations such as PAPA (Parents and Professionals and Autism) and PEAT (Parents' Education as Autism Therapists).

Car Parks

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps (a) Translink and (b) each Northern Ireland Department is taking to encourage departmental employees in Northern Ireland to use public transport to and from their workplace.

Shaun Woodward: Translink has advised me that it operates a corporate commuter initiative which encourages both public and private sector employees to use public transport to and from their workplace. Under this, Translink works in partnership with several Northern Ireland Departments and other Government bodies and provides incentives such as subsidised public transport and personalised travel plans.
	The Travelwise scheme operated by the Roads Service provides advice about alternatives to car use, including the use of public transport. It has promoted the scheme to all Northern Ireland Departments. In addition to these measures, Northern Ireland Departments may offer advances of salary to assist staff with the purchase of season tickets.

Confiscated Computers

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many computers have been confiscated in relation to offences reported to (a) East Belfast District Command Unit and (b) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

Shaun Woodward: No central record is maintained to identify the number of computers confiscated in a particular District Command Unit. To obtain this information would involve a manual trawl of records at disproportionate cost. Statistics relating to prosecutions and convictions resulting from the confiscation of computers is not recorded.

Cardiac Care

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care there were in each hospital in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information required is provided in the following tables.
	
		Number of trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care employed within the NI HPSS by hospital as at September 2001
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 2 2.00 3 2.80 
			 Belfast City Hospital 6 6.00 n/a n/a 
			 Causeway Hospital 1 1.00 1 0.85 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 2 2.00 4 3.75 
			 Downe and Lagan Valley Hospitals 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 1 1.00 8 7.68 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 2 1.00 2 1.86 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 14 13.64 39 36.52 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Erne Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Ulster Hospital 3 3.00 4 4.00 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 0 0.00 2 2.00 
			 Antrim Area and Whiteabbey Hospitals 4 3.91 n/a 12.91 
			 Total 38 36.55 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The number of nurses specialising in cardiac care was not available (n/a) for Belfast City Hospital, Downe Hospital, Lagan Valley Hospital, Erne Hospital and Tyrone County Hospital. Only whole-time equivalent nursing figures were available for Antrim Area Hospital.
	2. Doctor figures include the following grades: consultant and associate specialist.
	3. Nursing figures include qualified nursing staff Grade F and above only.
	4. Totals have been left blank (n/a) where some figures were not available.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts
	
		Number of trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care employed within the NIHPSS by hospital as at September 2002
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 2 2.00 4 3.80 
			 Belfast City Hospital 6 6.00 n/a n/a 
			 Causeway Hospital 1 1.00 1 0.85 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 2 1.27 5 4.39 
			 Downe and Lagan Valley Hospitals 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 1 1.00 10 9.68 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 2 1.00 2 2.00 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 15 14.64 42 39.52 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Erne Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Ulster Hospital 3 3.00 4 4.00 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 0 0.00 2 2.00 
			 Antrim Area and Whiteabbey Hospitals 4 3.91 n/a 12.01 
			 Total 39 36.82 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The number of nurses specialising in cardiac care was not available (n/a) for Belfast City Hospital, Downe Hospital, Lagan Valley Hospital, Erne Hospital and Tyrone County Hospital. Only whole-time equivalent nursing figures were available for Antrim Area Hospital.
	2. Doctor figures include the following grades: consultant and associate specialist.
	3. Nursing figures include qualified nursing staff Grade F and above only.
	4. Totals have been left blank (n/a) where some figures were not available.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts
	
		Number of trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care employed within the NIHPSS by hospital as at September 2003
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 3 3.00 4 3.80 
			 Belfast City Hospital 6 6.00 n/a n/a 
			 Causeway Hospital 1 1.00 2 1.85 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 4 3.01 5 4.55 
			 Downe and Lagan Valley Hospitals 2 2.00 2 1.85 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 1 1.00 10 9.68 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 2 1.00 2 2.00 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 15 14.60 62 57.62 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Erne Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Ulster Hospital 3 3.00 6 3.30 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 0 0.00 2 2.00 
			 Antrim Area and Whiteabbey Hospitals 4 3.91 n/a 13.93 
			 Total 43 40.52 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The number of nurses specialising in cardiac care was not available (n/a) for Belfast City Hospital, Erne Hospital and Tyrone County Hospital. Only whole-time equivalent nursing figures were available for Antrim Area Hospital.
	2. Doctor figures include the following grades: consultant and associate specialist.
	3. Nursing figures include qualified nursing staff Grade F and above only.
	4. Totals have been left blank (n/a) where some figures were not available.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts
	
		Number of trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care employed within the NIHPSS by hospital as at September 2004
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 3 3.00 4 3.80 
			 Belfast City Hospital 6 6.00 28 26.78 
			 Causeway Hospital 1 1.00 2 1.85 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 3 2.01 24 21.24 
			 Downe and Lagan Valley Hospital 2 2.00 4 3.60 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 1 1.00 10 9.48 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 2 1.00 2 2.00 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 14 13.64 64 60.25 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Erne Hospital 1 1.00 n/a n/a 
			 Ulster Hospital 4 4.00 6 5.80 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 0 0.00 2 2.00 
			 Antrim Area and Whiteabbey Hospitals 4 4.00 17 13.76 
			 Total 42 39.65 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The number of nurses specialising in cardiac care was not available for Erne Hospital and Tyrone County Hospital.
	2. Doctor figures include the following grades: consultant and associate specialist.
	3. Nursing figures include qualified nursing staff Grade F and above only.
	4. Totals have been left blank (n/a) where some figures were not available.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts
	
		Number of trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care employed within the NIHPSS by hospital as at September 2005
		
			  Doctors Nurses 
			 Hospital Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 5 4.01 6 4.87 
			 Belfast City Hospital 6 6.00 24 22.71 
			 Causeway Hospital 1 1.00 14 10.84 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 3 2.80 26 23.39 
			 Downe and Lagan Valley Hospital 2 2.00 4 3.60 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 3 2.60 12 11.48 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 2 1.00 2 2.00 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 17 15.83 65 60.65 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 1 1.00 8 6.92 
			 Erne Hospital 1 1.00 10 6.70 
			 Ulster Hospital 4 4.00 6 5.80 
			 Mid-Ulster Hospital 0 0.00 2 2.00 
			 Antrim Area and Whiteabbey Hospitals 3 3.00 15 12.81 
			 Total 48 44.24 194 173.77 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Doctor figures include the following grades: consultant and associate specialist.
	2. Nursing figures include qualified nursing staff Grade F and above only.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts

Cardiomyopathy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in the Province in the last five years, broken down by age.

Shaun Woodward: The number of people diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in Northern Ireland is not available.
	Information is available on the number of cardiomyopathy sufferers admitted as in-patients to hospitals in Northern Ireland. The following table details the number of admissions to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of cardiomyopathy by age band, for each of the last five years available. It should be noted that any individual could have been admitted to hospital more than once over the course of a year or over a number of years and would therefore be counted more than once in the table.
	
		
			 Age bands 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 09 23 24 35 50 23 
			 1019 9 15 15 9 9 
			 2029 27 36 20 33 21 
			 3039 56 79 62 66 56 
			 4049 90 85 78 113 121 
			 5059 98 109 134 125 132 
			 6069 113 113 112 106 125 
			 7079 67 59 75 89 81 
			 80+ 18 32 30 37 25 
			 Total 501 552 561 628 593 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is supplied by age band in order to avoid potential disclosure of personal information.
	Source:
	Hospital In-patients System DHSS and PS.

Child Support Agency

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) improvement on its predecessor of the Child Support Agency system introduced in 2003.

David Hanson: The Great Britain Child Support Agency's chief executive, Stephen Geraghty, is currently undertaking a root and branch review of the Agency. He will report to Ministers in Great Britain and will make announcements shortly. I will decide what action to take in Northern Ireland in the light of these announcements.

Child Support Agency

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects Northern Ireland residents on the old Child Support Agency system to be transferred on to the new system.

David Hanson: In line with the Child Support Agency in Great Britain, the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency has been processing new applications using the new computer system and the new legislation since March 2003.
	The introduction of the new computer system has not been without its problems. Therefore, existing cases will be transferred to the new scheme only when the Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions is satisfied that the new computer system is working well. No decision has been made as to when this will happen.

Crime Clear-up Rates

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the clear-up rate was for (a) burglary, (b) car theft and (c) possession of illegal drugs in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is set out in the following tables:
	
		Burglary offencesclearance rate
		
			 Percentage 
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland 14.4 10.2 9.9 12.2 14.8 
			   
			 Antrim 8.4 4.7 5.2 5.7 8.2 
			 Ards 7.2 8.3 8.4 9.9 10.7 
			 East Belfast 18.8 8.9 4.9 13.1 10.2 
			 North Belfast 15.8 5.9 8.2 10.7 12.4 
			 South Belfast 13.6 11.3 10.9 12.6 14.2 
			 West Belfast 20.9 15.0 13.7 13.4 16.2 
			 Carrickfergus 17.8 7.1 16.5 20.4 23.2 
			 Castlereagh 9.8 3.8 3.7 13.5 17.3 
			 Larne 24.6 14.2 18.3 18.3 11.0 
			 Lisburn 9.9 12.3 7.1 8.1 12.1 
			 Newtownabbey 16.5 5.0 5.9 6.8 7.8 
			 North Down 14.9 8.8 10.1 11.7 19.8 
			 Armagh 10.4 11.6 20.7 16.0 18.2 
			 Banbridge 18.8 11.7 11.5 10.4 27.0 
			 Ballymena 26.9 23.6 12.3 14.2 14.1 
			 Ballymoney 20.2 24.2 15.3 12.0 18.1 
			 Coleraine 12.7 9.2 10.5 14.6 23.1 
			 Cookstown 19.7 17.3 10.2 20.1 44.5 
			 Craigavon 13.2 5.5 8.3 13.2 9.9 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 16.8 11.9 7.4 17.0 17.2 
			 Down 6.7 9.1 11.2 12.3 19.6 
			 Fermanagh 12.3 8.8 7.5 11.6 10.4 
			 Foyle 15.5 13.1 14.1 15.3 17.3 
			 Limavady 14.7 10.1 12.8 12.6 14.1 
			 Magherafelt 12.0 9.1 8.3 13.1 15.4 
			 Moyle 14.5 10.2 16.2 10.5 23.4 
			 Newry and Mourne 13.0 9.0 6.1 7.8 12.1 
			 Omagh 10.9 11.7 10.8 11.1 17.0 
			 Strabane 15.2 21.8 31.3 19.1 28.6 
		
	
	
		Theft/unauthorised taking of motor vehicle offencesclearance rate
		
			 Percentage 
			  200001 200102 200203(29) 200304(29) 200405(29) 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland 11.4 8.6 11.1 15.8 16.9 
			   
			 Antrim 15.0 6.5 6.5 10.1 18.5 
			 Ards 12.1 13.8 13.1 26.7 17.2 
			 East Belfast 10.9 7.2 9.1 22.8 17.4 
			 North Belfast 9.8 4.9 8.8 10.2 9.6 
			 South Belfast 7.8 4.4 6.0 7.9 7.4 
			 West Belfast 7.9 7.4 4.6 7.1 9.7 
			 Carrickfergus 10.1 6.5 12.7 24.0 35.7 
			 Castlereagh 9.2 6.2 5.6 16.5 17.5 
			 Larne 17.6 22.3 22.4 26.7 17.5 
			 Lisburn 7.8 8.3 8.9 6.6 18.8 
			 Newtownabbey 8.5 4.5 7.7 15.0 15.4 
			 North Down 6.8 9.3 14.2 27.3 40.4 
			 Armagh 29.1 26.7 19.5 21.3 20.3 
			 Banbridge 20.0 15.7 22.4 18.0 31.3 
			 Ballymena 33.3 18.8 22.6 30.0 27.3 
			 Ballymoney 13.6 11.4 46.5 48.1 43.5 
			 Coleraine 14.9 12.6 28.0 21.1 24.7 
			 Cookstown 22.7 36.8 16.7 59.3 34.0 
			 Craigavon 20.9 8.7 13.6 16.6 23.2 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 19.8 19.0 16.0 21.4 16.2 
			 Down 12.2 8.0 21.0 14.1 15.4 
			 Fermanagh 21.4 21.4 14.1 17.3 17.0 
			 Foyle 18.8 14.3 19.2 23.9 25.1 
			 Limavady 22.7 22.2 37.1 37.2 34.8 
			 Magherafelt 17.8 22.4 22.7 41.4 27.3 
			 Moyle 24.2 11.8 25.5 35.7 30.4 
			 Newry and Mourne 16.6 8.4 8.9 12.9 12.5 
			 Omagh 10.6 22.1 22.2 50.0 47.7 
			 Strabane 21.1 29.9 21.8 34.0 38.1 
		
	
	(29) From 1 April 2002, most attempted thefts/unauthorised taking of motor vehicles are recorded as vehicle interference due to a change in the Home Office Counting Rules.
	
		Drug non-trafficking offencesclearance rate
		
			 Percentage 
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland 87.3 76.3 67.7 70.5 71.8 
			   
			 Antrim 74.1 19.0 52.6 42.6 54.5 
			 Ards 94.7 60.0 60.5 67.9 66.7 
			 East Belfast 84.2 100.0 66.7 86.7 76.0 
			 North Belfast 95.8 73.8 68.8 70.1 76.7 
			 South Belfast 80.3 84.8 59.4 76.1 79.5 
			 West Belfast 114.0 72.4 71.6 63.3 86.5 
			 Carrickfergus 82.1 55.2 72.3 60.7 89.3 
			 Castlereagh 105.9 71.4 74.2 72.5 77.1 
			 Larne 90.0 111.1 83.3 65.7 158.3 
			 Lisburn 89.6 102.9 56.6 82.7 65.7 
			 Newtownabbey 89.3 70.6 69.0 76.5 68.2 
			 North Down 75.0 92.7 82.4 69.3 66.7 
			 Armagh 91.1 92.0 67.4 82.8 86.4 
			 Banbridge 85.0 50.0 74.5 88.1 58.1 
			 Ballymena 95.2 84.6 65.9 74.5 73.8 
			 Ballymoney 92.9 200.0 72.7 100.0 90.9 
			 Coleraine 70.2 56.5 77.6 69.7 60.3 
			 Cookstown 100.0 66.7 65.0 54.8 59.7 
			 Craigavon 94.4 65.1 48.4 43.3 63.8 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 96.3 78.3 83.0 89.4 82.1 
			 Down 73.1 65.0 52.7 76.7 85.9 
			 Fermanagh 57.7 90.5 85.3 45.2 46.6 
			 Foyle 75.0 79.7 68.9 71.3 67.2 
			 Limavady 61.9 41.2 46.7 57.9 49.3 
			 Magherafelt 109.1 100.0 56.7 81.1 94.6 
			 Moyle 100.0 50.0 120.0 33.3 50.0 
			 Newry and Mourne 76.0 80.6 76.3 66.7 78.8 
			 Omagh 106.5 94.3 66.7 58.3 64.1 
			 Strabane 85.0 90.0 85.7 90.9 79.2

Crime Clear-up Rates

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) burglaries, (b) vehicle thefts, (c) assaults, (d) violence against the person offences and (e) violent crimes have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested in relation to the number of offences reported to East Belfast and Castlereagh DCU's in each year since 1998 is contained in the following tables. Data relating to prosecutions and convictions for these type of offences are currently only available in the period 2000 to 2003 (2000 and 2003 being the earliest and most recent dates for which this information is available). Prosecutions and convictions cannot be linked to offences reported, therefore it is not possible to provide a meaningful percentage of one against the other.
	
		East Belfast District Command Unit
		
			  Burglary Theft/unauthorised taking of motor vehicle Assaults Offences against the person Total violent crime 
		
		
			 199899 1,214 418 704 834 1,017 
			 19992000 1,099 538 789 960 1,155 
			 200001 963 587 780 913 1,093 
			 200102 1,026 611 826 952 1,201 
			 200203 1,174 640 1,010 1,317 1,609 
			 200304 913 267 1,058 1,269 1,504 
			 200405 748 213 923 1,168 1,344 
		
	
	
		Castlereagh District Command Unit
		
			  Burglary Theft/unauthorised taking of motor vehicle Assaults Offences against the person Total violent crime 
		
		
			 199899 485 306 299 353 441 
			 19992000 446 379 345 392 457 
			 200001 499 325 330 374 459 
			 200102 634 454 468 534 645 
			 200203 648 284 447 536 677 
			 200304 578 182 462 545 648 
			 200405 313 143 433 521 591 
		
	
	
		East Belfast DCU
		
			  Burglary Vehicle Theft Assault 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 66 57 3 3 52 34 
			 2001 42 33 1 1 67 57 
			 2002 39 31 0 0 47 35 
			 2003 44 40 0 0 54 41 
		
	
	
		
			  Violence against the Person Violent Crime 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 92 68 116 88 
			 2001 81 69 100 86 
			 2002 86 69 109 85 
			 2003 116 97 136 115 
		
	
	
		Castlereagh DCU
		
			  Burglary Vehicle Theft Assault 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 10 10 0 0 39 28 
			 2001 14 12 0 0 29 23 
			 2002 24 20 0 0 32 24 
			 2003 11 11 0 0 29 18 
		
	
	
		
			  Violence against the Person Violent Crime 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 55 44 62 50 
			 2001 45 38 54 45 
			 2002 43 35 48 39 
			 2003 48 37 54 42 
		
	
	Note:
	Prosecutions and convictions data are based on the police district command unit in which an offender's address falls.

Drug Offences

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were (a) cautioned and (b) convicted in relation to a drugs offence in each district command unit in Northern Ireland, broken down by age group, in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Housing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to assist first time homebuyers in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Department for Social Development provides assistance to first time buyers through the Co-ownership Scheme which helps those on marginal incomes to become home owners. The Department has recently increased its funding level by 23 million over the next three years to provide almost 39 million and this will help support around 2,400 applicants over the period.
	The social housing house sales scheme also makes an important contribution in providing an opportunity for those in the social rented sector to become home owners. The scheme was extended to housing association tenants last year.

Cyclists

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cyclists were (a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The following tables provide details of how many cyclists were injured and killed in road traffic accidents in Northern Ireland during the period 19982004 (1998 being the earliest date for which this data is available and 2004 the most up-to-date data).
	
		Seriously injured
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Antrim 2 1 3 1 3 2 0 12 
			 Ards 1 1 4 2 2 3 3 16 
			 Armagh 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 6 
			 Banbridge 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 5 
			 East Belfast 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 15 
			 North Belfast 0 3 1 3 1 0 1 9 
			 South Belfast 5 6 3 2 3 2 3 24 
			 West Belfast 4 2 4 2 0 2 0 14 
			 Ballymena 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 7 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 4 
			 Carrickfergus 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 6 
			 Coleraine 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 7 
			 Cookstown 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 4 
			 Craigavon 5 2 2 4 3 3 2 21 
			 Castlereagh 3 1 2 1 1 2 0 10 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 0 0 1 3 0 1 1 6 
			 Down 3 1 2 1 2 0 1 10 
			 Fermanagh 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 6 
			 Foyle 2 4 0 3 1 2 2 14 
			 Lame 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 5 
			 Limavady 1 2 2 1 0 2 0 8 
			 Lisburn 3 1 2 3 3 5 2 19 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 
			 Moyle 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 5 
			 Newtownabbey 4 3 0 2 1 0 2 12 
			 North Down 0 1 2 2 1 1 2 9 
			 Newry and Mourne 7 4 4 3 0 1 0 19 
			 Omagh 0 4 3 0 0 2 0 9 
			 Strabane 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Total 53 51 52 43 27 36 27 289 
		
	
	
		Slightly injured
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Antrim 7 5 8 5 5 2 2 34 
			 Ards 15 9 9 5 2 7 4 51 
			 Armagh 3 6 4 6 0 2 1 22 
			 Banbridge 1 2 5 3 1 2 4 18 
			 East Belfast 21 20 13 7 6 15 6 88 
			 North Belfast 20 21 17 11 9 8 7 93 
			 South Belfast 22 18 13 13 14 16 14 110 
			 West Belfast 7 8 11 5 7 8 6 52 
			 Ballymena 6 6 3 3 5 3 6 32 
			 Ballymoney 0 3 2 0 0 2 0 7 
			 Carrickfergus 7 3 8 4 4 4 3 33 
			 Coleraine 13 5 8 6 9 11 7 59 
			 Cookstown 4 6 7 4 3 2 2 28 
			 Craigavon 7 12 7 12 7 7 16 68 
			 Castlereagh 14 13 8 5 4 4 8 56 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 4 6 4 1 0 3 2 20 
			 Down 7 8 3 7 8 5 6 44 
			 Fermanagh 5 3 3 4 3 4 2 24 
			 Foyle 12 10 10 7 6 9 8 62 
			 Larne 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 21 
			 Limavady 6 3 3 4 3 7 1 27 
			 Lisburn 22 14 14 13 10 14 5 92 
			 Magherafelt 1 2 1 1 3 0 0 8 
			 Moyle 7 0 0 5 3 0 1 16 
			 Newtownabbey 10 7 20 10 2 6 2 57 
			 North Down 13 9 7 10 10 5 6 60 
			 Newry and Mourne 12 9 7 7 6 3 5 49 
			 Omagh 4 3 5 3 4 4 4 27 
			 Strabane 8 4 7 3 3 0 1 26 
			 Total 265 217 210 167 139 155 131 1284 
		
	
	
		Killed
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Antrim 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Ards 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Armagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Banbridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Belfast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ballymena 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Coleraine 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 
			 Cookstown 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 
			 Craigavon 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Castlereagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Down 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fermanagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Foyle 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Larne 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Limavady 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lisburn 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Moyle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Down 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Omagh 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Strabane 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Total 7 1 4 2 3 2 2 21

Eating Disorders

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of individuals who have travelled from the Province to St. George's hospital in London for (a) assessment and (b) treatment for eating disorders in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of individuals who have travelled from Northern Ireland to St George's hospital in London for (a) assessment and (b) treatment of eating disorders from 200001 to 200405 is outlined in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of patients travelling to Northern Ireland to St. George's hospital in London for 
			 Financial year (a) Assessment (b) Treatment 
		
		
			 200001(30) 5 5 
			 200102 12 3 
			 200203 11 7 
			 200304 11 11 
			 200405 4 18 
		
	
	(30) Information for Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Board is not available for 200001
	Source:
	Health and Social Service Boards

Electronic Human Resources Services

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will widen the Gateway Review of the Electronic Human Resources contract procurement procedure planned for December into an independent peer review of the whole process for this contract.

Angela Smith: The e-HR project has been subject to five reviews under the peer review process allied to the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Gateway process:
	
		
			   Date 
		
		
			 Gate 0 Strategic Assessment November 2002 
			 Gate 1 Business Justification February 2003 
			 Gate 2 Procurement Strategy May 2003 
			 Gate 2a Health Check Review December 2003 
			 Gate 2b Health Check Review June 2004 
		
	
	The peer review process has been conducted in accordance with OGC Gateway guidance, led by an OGC member of staff and supported by public sector panel members independent of the e-HR project and who are trained in carrying out Gateway Reviews.
	A further three reviews will be carried out, these are:
	
		
			   Date 
		
		
			 Gate 3 Investment Decision December 2005 
			 Gate 4 Readiness for Service  
			 Gate 5 Benefits evaluation  
		
	
	The procurement process has been undertaken in accordance with European Union procurement law and the Department of Finance and Personnel has been guided by best procurement practice as recommended by the Office of Government Commerce and Central Procurement Directorate (Department of Finance and Personnel).
	The purpose of the forthcoming Gate 3 review will be to confirm whether the recommended investment decision is appropriate before the contract is placed with a supplier or partner. It will also be to seek assurances on the processes used to select a supplier and assess whether the process has been well managed; whether the business needs are being met; that both the client and the supplier can implement and manage the proposed solution; and that the necessary processes are in place to achieve a successful outcome after a contract award.
	The peer review scheduled for December will be conducted in accordance with OGC Gateway guidance and consequently will not be widened.

High Hedges

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce legislation to tackle problem high hedges in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment's recent public consultation to collect information about the number of nuisance high hedges in Northern Ireland supports the need for legislation to address this issue and the Department will take that legislation forward when a place can be secured in the legislative programme.

Fraud and Forgery

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) fraud and (b) forgery offences have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

Shaun Woodward: The following tables detail how many fraud and forgery offences have been reported to East Belfast and Castlereagh DCU's in each year since 1988 together with the number of prosecutions and convictions relating to fraud and forgery offences in the period 2000 to 2003 (2000 being the earliest date and 2003 the most current date for which this information is available). As prosecutions and convictions data cannot be linked to offences reported data, it is not possible to provide a meaningful percentage of one in relation to the other.
	
		East Belfast District Command Unit
		
			  Deception Forgery and counterfeiting Making off without payment Other frauds Total fraud and forgery 
		
		
			 199899 210 17 91 2 320 
			 19992000 239 32 111 3 385 
			 200001 294 42 184 5 525 
			 200102 229 25 256 0 510 
			 200203 279 15 180 8 482 
			 200304 94 3 137 5 239 
			 200405 83 11 152 6 252 
			 Total 1428 145 1111 29 2713 
		
	
	
		Castlereagh District Command Unit
		
			  Deception Forgery and counterfeiting Making off without payment Other frauds Total fraud and forgery 
		
		
			 199899 89 15 133 1 238 
			 19992000 107 22 189 1 319 
			 200001 90 10 172 1 273 
			 200102 342 38 294 1 675 
			 200203 169 36 182 3 390 
			 200304 107 7 131 1 246 
			 200405 75 3 54 2 134 
			 Total 979 131 1155 10 2275 
		
	
	
		East Belfast DCU
		
			  Fraud Forgery 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 6 1 1 1 
			 2001 5 5 4 4 
			 2002 11 9 6 6 
			 2003 12 10 1 1 
			 Total 35 30 12 12 
		
	
	
		Castlereagh DCU
		
			  Fraud Forgery 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 8 6 0 0 
			 2001 4 3 2 2 
			 2002 9  3 2 
			 2003 7 7 2 2 
			 Total 28 24 7 6 
		
	
	Note:
	Prosecutions and convictions data is based on the police district command unit in which an offender's address falls

Illegal Drinking Dens

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many illegal drinking dens have been closed down in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many people have been prosecuted for operating illegal drinking dens in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold a central record of the number of illegal drinking dens closed down in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. To obtain this information would involve a manual trawl of historical records at disproportionate cost.
	The closest prosecution information available relates to offences for selling or supplying intoxicating liquor in unlicensed premises or unregistered clubs, or permitting persons on unlicensed premises.
	The following table provides the number of persons prosecuted for liquor law offences during the period 19942003 (the latter being the most up-to-date data presently available).
	
		Persons prosecuted for specific liquor law offences(31)
		
			  Number of prosecutions 
		
		
			 1994 12 
			 1995 9 
			 1996 10 
			 1997 5 
			 1998 5 
			 1999 6 
			 2000 1 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 4 
			 2003 3 
		
	
	(31) Includes prosecutions for offences relating to selling or supplying intoxicating liquor in unlicensed premises or unregistered clubs, or permitting persons on unlicensed premises.

Juvenile Ill Health

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland under the age of 20 years have been found to have (a) high cholesterol levels, (b) high blood pressure, (c) heart conditions and (d) diabetes in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: Information is not available on the number of people in Northern Ireland who have been found to have the aforementioned conditions. However, information is available on the number of admissions to hospital where high blood pressure, heart conditions and diabetes have been diagnosed.
	(a) There is no information available on the number of people found to have high cholesterol. It has not been possible to identify patients suffering from high cholesterol who have been admitted to hospital.
	(b) The following table provides figures on the number of admissions to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure) for each of the last ten years for which figures are available.
	
		Admissions for hypertensive diseases (high blood pressure)(32)
		
			  
		
		
			 200405 26,185 
			 200304 22,209 
			 200203 19,637 
			 200102 19,757 
			 200001 17,012 
			 19992000 12,695 
			 199899 11,498 
			 199798 10,542 
			 199697 10,376 
			 199596(33) 7,358 
		
	
	(c) The following table provides figures on the number of admissions to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of coronary heart disease for each of the last ten years for which figures are available.
	
		Admissions for ischemic heart diseases(32)
		
			  
		
		
			 200405 34,938 
			 200304 31,656 
			 200203 30,846 
			 200102 32,824 
			 200001 32,639 
			 19992000 27,847 
			 199899 28,068 
			 199798 28,319 
			 199697 29,231 
			 199596(33) 26,075 
		
	
	(d) The following table provides figures on the number of admissions to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of diabetes for each of the last ten years for which figures are available.
	
		Admissions for diabetes(32)
		
			  
		
		
			 200405 19,778 
			 200304 32,366 
			 200203 17,446 
			 200102 18,534 
			 200001 16,876 
			 19992000 14,956 
			 199899 12,751 
			 199798 12,610 
			 199697 12,183 
			 199596(33) 10,092 
		
	
	(32) Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation for admissions. It should be noted that any individual could have been admitted to hospital more than once over the course of a year or over a number of years and would therefore be counted more than once in the tables.
	(33) Discharges from hospital during 199596 have the final diagnosis coded in accordance with the 9th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death (ICD-9). Discharges from all other years are coded in accordance with ICD-10.

Lakeview Hospital, Derry

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on medical staffing levels at Lakeview hospital, Derry.

Shaun Woodward: Recruitment of staff is a matter for individual health and social services trusts taking into account factors such as service needs, available resources and in keeping with the need to maintain high quality services. Lakeview hospital has been experiencing difficulties recently recruiting a Consultant Psychiatrist, and the Trust has taken steps to minimise any adverse impact and is making every effort to recruit a replacement.
	The numbers in training in the relevant specialty have been increased in recent years to provide candidates for Consultant vacancies as they arise. Trusts need to take all necessary steps to ensure their posts are attractive to potential candidates.

Motoring Offences

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) males and (b) females were convicted of motoring offences in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by offence.

David Hanson: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Motoring Offences

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision exists in Northern Ireland for the prosecution of drivers from the Irish Republic who have been identified as (a) driving (i) illegally and (ii) without tax and insurance and (b) parking illegally.

Shaun Woodward: Drivers of vehicles in Northern Ireland, where the driver is not resident in Northern Ireland, or where the vehicle is not registered in the United Kingdom, are subject to the provisions of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
	A community licence holder (i.e. a person who holds a licence issued by any of the member states of the European economic areaEEA) may drive a vehicle which that licence authorises him to drive, provided he is not disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence in Northern Ireland (e.g. he may be subject to a disqualification imposed by a NI court). However, that person is not so authorised where the licence is not valid in the state which issued it (e.g. the RoI authorities may have imposed a disqualificationthis would prevent that person from applying for an NI licence or from driving on the basis of the disqualified RoI licence). Article 15A of the Order refers.
	A person from outside the United Kingdom driving in Northern Ireland must be insured or secured against third party risks as prescribed by article 90 of the Order, and to the standard prescribed by article 92 of the 1981 Order. Under article 181 of the Order, police have the power to arrest without warrant and detain a person resident outside the UK for committing an offence under article 90 until he enters into a recognisance under the Magistrates Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to appear before a magistrates court to answer a complaint charging that offence.
	Failure to comply with any of the requirements specified aforementioned is an offence. These offences, and the punishments associated with them, are specified in schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
	Vehicles that are parked illegally are issued with a non-endorsable fixed penalty notice (FPN) irrespective of the country of origin. However, it is not possible to summons to court the owners of vehicles resident in the Republic of Ireland for the non-payment of FPNs.

Neurology

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many neurologists were employed by the NHS in Northern Ireland on the last date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of neurologists employed within the NI HPSS by trust as at November 2005
		
			 Trust Headcount WTE(34) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 1 1.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 1 1.00 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals Group HSS Trust 13 12.91 
			 Total 15 14.91 
		
	
	(34) WTE = Whole-time Equivalent.
	Source:
	NI HPSS Trusts.

Neurology

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent assessment is of how many neurologists are required by the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Current numbers of consultant neurologists are in line with the recommendations of the Review of Adult Neurological Services published in 2002. This recommended that there should be 10 consultant neurologists in post by 2003 and 16 by 2008. However, the position is reviewed annually and it is recognised that further increases may be required to take account of ongoing service developments.

Neurology

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of neurologists employed by the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The recruitment of staff is a matter for individual health and social services trusts taking into account factors such as service needs and available resources. The Department has a role in ensuring that sufficient suitably qualified staff are available to meet the needs of the service. There are currently five specialist registrars in training who are expected to be available to fill consultant posts over the next six years.

Obesity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle obesity in (a) adults and (b) children in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Obesity is being tackled principally through policies and programmes to increase levels of physical activity, particularly among those who are least active, and by encouraging healthy eating. An advertising campaign, Get a Life Get Active, to encourage people to undertake regular physical activity, and a community grants programme have been introduced as part of Northern Ireland's cross-departmental physical activity strategy, Be Active-Be Healthy. In addition, the Health Promotion Agency, Food Standards Agency and local health and social services boards, with the support of partner organizations, have developed a range of programmes to encourage active living, promote healthy eating and to support people to make healthy choices.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety also supported the development of guidelines by the clinical resource efficiency support team (CREST) on the management of obesity in secondary care. The CREST guidelines, which were published in June 2005, include advice on the assessment and management of obesity in both children and adults.
	The Northern Ireland Priorities and Budget 200508 report established a cross- departmental public service agreement target to stop the increase in levels of obesity in children by 2010. In August 2004, a taskforce initiative was established under the aegis of the ministerial group on public health to examine options for tackling childhood obesity and to make recommendations on how the stop the rise in levels of obesity in children. The recommendations of the fit futures taskforce will be published early in 2006 and will inform revised strategies and action plans on food and nutrition and physical activity.

Paramilitary-related Exiles

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are estimated by the security forces to have been exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary organisations in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: I have been advised by the PSNI that no reliable record has been made on the number of people exiled from Northern Ireland as a result of paramilitary intimidation, as not all incidents have been reported.
	However, in evidence to the NI Affairs Committee, a Christian organisation, 'The Maranatha Community' claims to have dealt with c. 4,500 persons between 1980 and 2005. Since July 2003 they have dealt with 77 cased which as been in the region of over 144 to 145 persons. Website address:
	www.maranathacommunity.org.uk
	You may also find the following contacts a useful source of information:
	The Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, reference the 'Base 2 Project' for resettlement:
	(NIACRO)
	Amelia House of Commons
	No. 4 Amelia Street
	Belfast
	BT2 7GS
	Telephone 02890 302157
	and
	Victims Unit
	Office of the Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM)
	Castle Buildings
	Stormont
	Belfast
	Telephone Free phone Number 08081273333.

Parole

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those eligible for parole (a) were granted parole and (b) broke the conditions of parole in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998.

Shaun Woodward: The term 'parole' in Northern Ireland is taken to refer to home and resettlement leave.
	2,931 periods of home and resettlement leave were granted from prison establishments throughout the 200405 financial year. Of that number, four failed to return and all currently remain at large.
	It is not possible to provide information on the number of prisoners who broke the conditions of home and resettlement leave, other than those unlawfully at large, as this data are kept on individual prisoner files and is not centrally collated. This is also applicable for preceding years. Numbers granted parole in previous years were similarly not centrally collated.
	Securing the information requested for the preceding years could be achieved only at a disproportionate cost.

Passports

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time was for a (a) new passport, (b) replacement passport, (c) new full or provisional driving licence and (d) replacement driving licence in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows:
	Passports
	It is not possible to separate the average waiting times for new passports and replacement passports. However the average waiting times for all straightforward, single, properly completed applications processed at the Belfast Passport Office for the last five years are:
	
		
			  Turnaround (Days) 
		
		
			 200001 4.1 
			 200102 3.8 
			 200203 4.3 
			 200304 4.3 
			 200405 4.6 
			 200506(35) 4.3 
		
	
	(35) To date
	Belfast Passport Office processes all Northern Irish passport applications and in addition to this processes any applications from the Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex area. Work transfers between regional offices commenced in March 2005 and since this date Belfast have processed an additional 45,000 applications from various other catchment areas.
	Driver licensing
	Performance is not recorded separately for each category of driving licences issued and is reported in percentages not average waiting times. It excludes those applications which need further scrutiny for medical or conduct reasons.
	
		
			  Percentage in 9 days Percentage in 10 days 
		
		
			 200001 93  
			 200102 94  
			 200203 80  
			 200304  94 
			 200405  90

Planning Applications

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken (a) to process area plans and (b) to expedite the processing of outstanding planning applications.

Angela Smith: All aspects of the development control process have been reviewed to identify areas for efficiencies including internal procedures, arrangements for council consultations, and working with other statutory bodies. ePIC the central e-planning project will allow online applications and provide a facility for applicants and objectors to track application progress. New legislation will also tackle delaying factors in the process.
	The planning service has an ambitious programme to provide complete and up to date development plan coverage for Northern Ireland and has made considerable progress in implementing this challenging programme. Within the past three years the Planning Service has published three adopted plans and four draft plans, including the draft Belfast metropolitan plan 2015. Collectively, this covers 16 of the 26 council areas in Northern Ireland. Draft plans for a further eight council areas are under preparation. The remaining two council areas are already covered by up to date adopted area plans.
	Through the modernising planning processes the planning service has an ongoing programme to improve and streamline the plan process. The planning service will continue to keep the process and programme under review and will seek where possible to improve procedures and practices in order to deliver area plans efficiently in accordance with planning and environmental legislation and policy and in general conformity with the regional development strategy.

Police

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers use bicycles while patrolling in each Police Service Northern Ireland district.

Shaun Woodward: The number of bicycles on issue to each DCU as of October 2005 is detailed in the table.
	Patrolling by bicycle is just one patrol method used by DCUs across Northern Ireland. The bicycles may be used by more than one officer, at different times of the day-shift.
	No central record of officers who use bicycles to patrol is held.
	
		Bicycle allocation
		
			 DCU Quantity of bicycles Station 
		
		
			 Antrim 2 Antrim 
			 Ards 2 Newtownards 
			 Armagh 2 Gough Barracks 
			 Armagh 2 Armagh 
			 Ballymena 3 Ballymena 
			 Ballymoney 2 Bally money 
			 Banbridge 2 Banbridge 
			 Carrickfergus 2 Carrickfergus 
			 Castlereagh 2 Castlereagh 
			 Coleraine 2 Coleraine 
			 Cookstown 2 Cookstown 
			 Dungannon 2 Dungannon 
			 East Belfast 2 Strandtown 
			 Fermanagh 2 Enniskillen 
			 Foyle 2 Strand Road 
			 Larne 2 Larne 
			 Limavady 2 Limavady 
			 Lisburn 2 Lisburn 
			 Lurgan 2 Portadown 
			 Lurgan 2 Lurgan 
			 Magherafelt 2 Magherafelt 
			 Moyle 2 Bally castle 
			 Newry and Mourne 2 Ardmore 
			 Newtownabbey 4 Newtownabbey 
			 North Belfast 4 Antrim Road 
			 North Down 2 Bangor 
			 Omagh 2 Omagh 
			 South Belfast 2 Musgrave Street 
			 South Belfast 4 Ballynafeigh 
			 South Belfast 2 Lisburn Road 
			 Strabane 2 Strabane 
			 Total(36) 69  
		
	
	(36) Bicycles purchased to date.

Police

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to rationalise the number of police district command units in Northern Ireland before completion of the review of the public administration; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: A working party, headed by the Assistant Chief Constable responsible for change management, is currently considering the future structure of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This work will take time to complete.
	No final decisions have been made with regard to timeframe for implementation of any agreed changes. Any proposals will require careful consideration, and will be subject to consultation with the Policing Board.

Police

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of service was of police officers in Northern Ireland in (a) 2005 and (b) 1995.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		RUC/PSNIaverage service data
		
			 Years 
			  December 
			 Rank 1995 2005 
		
		
			 ACPO 33.3 25.48 
			 Chief Superintendent 32.3 26.28 
			 Superintendent 28.19 24.44 
			 Chief Inspector 24.5 23.24 
			 Inspector 21.4 21.09 
			 Sergeant 15.09 18.42 
			 Constable 13.47 14.02 
			 Overall Regular 15.03 14.31 
			
			 FT Reserve 9.6 18.36

Prostate Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been ring fenced for research into treatment for prostate cancer over the last five years in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: There have been no funds allocated by the DHSSPS RD Office for research into treatment for prostate cancer over the last five years in Northern Ireland.

Radioactive Waste

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the procedure is for notification of instances of dumping of radioactive waste at sea to (a) Parliament, (b) relevant local authorities, (c) relevant local NHS boards, (d) local industries that may be affected and (e) local residents;
	(2)  if he will list the sites where radioactive waste has been dumped in the Irish Sea over the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: I understand from my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for DEFRA that, in-line with Government policy there has been no disposal of solid radioactive waste at sea since 1982. Any need to notify instances of disposal of radioactive waste at sea has therefore not arisen. In the unlikely event that such unauthorised disposals did arise, these would need to be reported to the appropriate environmental regulator as they would be in breach of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, and therefore would constitute an illegal act. The environmental regulator in Northern Ireland would be the Environment and Heritage Service; in England and Wales, the Environment Agency; and in Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Road Accidents

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children have been (a) injured and (b) fatally injured while crossing roads outside schools in the past five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information is unavailable in the format requested. The Police Service of Northern Ireland records details of road traffic collisions by road name and not specific locations e.g. schools.

Seat Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the seat belt wearing rate was in each province in Northern Ireland (a) in the last period for which figures are available and (b) in each month since 1990.

Angela Smith: Seat belt surveys are carried out by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on behalf of the Department of the Environment. The series began in 1994 and was conducted biannually, in April and October, until 1997 from when it has been conducted in April only. The survey was again carried out in both April and October in 2001 on a one off basis to inform the launch of a new seatbelt publicity campaign. The nature of the data collection means that it is not possible to provide figures at a sub-regional level. The following table provides details of seat belt wearing rates in each year since the surveys began in 1994.
	
		Northern Ireland seat belt surveys 19942005
		
			  Percentage of car occupants wearing seatbelts 
			  Driver Front Seat Back Seat Overall wearing rate percentage 
		
		
			 April 1994 88 88 52 82 
			 October 1994 86 86 53 82 
			 April 1995 85 86 50 80 
			 October 1995 84 83 49 78 
			 April 1996 85 85 51 80 
			 October 1996 86 86 54 81 
			 April 1997 85 86 56 81 
			 April 1998 87 88 61 84 
			 April 1999 86 86 62 83 
			 April 2000 87 87 65 84 
			 April 2001 86 86 67 84 
			 October 2001 88 89 71 87 
			 April 2002 90 89 72 88 
			 April 2003 90 89 75 88 
			 April 2004 91 90 77 89 
			 April 2005 93 92 81 91

Sexual Offences and Robberies

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) sexual offences and (b) robberies have been reported to (i) East Belfast District Command Unit and (ii) Castlereagh District Command Unit in each year since 1998; how many reports led to (A) prosecution and (B) conviction; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total.

Shaun Woodward: The following tables show the number of sexual offences and robberies reported to East Belfast and Castlereagh DCU's in each year since 1998 together with the number of prosecutions and convictions relating to sexual offences and robberies in the period 2000 to 2003 (2000 being the earliest date and 2003 the most recent date for which this information is available). As prosecutions and convictions data cannot be linked to offences reported data, it is not possible to provide one as a meaningful percentage of the other.
	
		Table 1: Number sexual offences and robberies reported
		
			  East Belfast sexual offences East Belfast robberies Castlereagh sexual offences Castlereagh robberies 
		
		
			 199899 85 98 54 34 
			 19992000 71 124 26 39 
			 200001 48 132 35 50 
			 200102 69 180 51 60 
			 200203 51 241 43 98 
			 200304 68 167 32 71 
			 200405 104 72 27 43 
			 Total 496 1014 268 395 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Number of persons prosecuted and convicted for sexual offences and robbery
		
			 East Belfast DCU 
			  Sexual Offences Robbery 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 2000 9 5 15 15 
			 2001 7 6 12 11 
			 2002 9 2 14 14 
			 2003 5 3 15 15 
			 Total 30 16 56 55 
			  
			 Castlereagh DCU 
			  Sexual Offences Robbery 
			  Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions 
			 2000 5 4 2 2 
			 2001 5 4 4 3 
			 2002 2 2 3 2 
			 2003 3 2 3 3 
			 Total 15 12 12 10 
		
	
	The data in table 2 are based on the police district command unit in which an offender's address falls.

Smoking Ban

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact on health inequalities of implementing the proposed ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on health inequalities of implementing an (a) comprehensive and (b) partial ban on smoking in enclosed public places.

Shaun Woodward: Evidence from elsewhere suggests that, in addition to protecting the public and employees from exposure to second-hand smoke, comprehensive controls help to reduce smoking prevalence which is greater among lower socio-economic groups. During the course of my fact-finding visits to Dublin and New York in July, I was struck by the strength of the argument that partial controls would, in effect, create a two-tier work force whereby some employees would be protected and others would not.
	There is widespread support for comprehensive controls in Northern Ireland with local trades' unions stressing the need to protect all of their members in the hospitality sector, many of whom are among the lower paid.

Sudden Cardiac Death

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the national service framework recommendations on sudden cardiac death; and what plans he has to implement them in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: The Department has not formally adopted the national service framework on coronary heart disease (NSFCHD), but recognises the need, as outlined in chapter 8 of the NSFCHD, to provide timely treatment to patients with irregular heart rhythm or who are at risk of sudden cardiac death. Many of these patients are young and may suffer from inherited cardiac disorders.
	Services for people with inherited cardiac disorders are provided by consultants at the Regional Genetics Centre, Belfast City hospital, and a cardiologist at the Royal Group of Hospitals who has particular expertise in this area. Staff at the two trusts work together to provide quality care to patients and families affected by inherited cardiac disorders. They are currently exploring the potential of developing a more integrated service in line with recommendations contained in chapter 8 of the NSFCHD.

Talented Athlete Initiative

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to introducing a programme in the Province similar to England's talented athlete support scheme.

David Hanson: Athletes in Northern Ireland can access funding to support their development through their Governing Bodies in two ways:
	(1) By inclusion in the athlete support scheme operated by the lottery.
	(2) Under the Governing Body plan submitted to Sports Council for Northern Ireland's sports development unit.
	The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, with Sports Council for Northern Ireland, is presently considering further arrangements for the identification of sporting talent. This is being addressed in the context of the strategy for sport and the Northern Ireland strategy for London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Taxis

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time is in Northern Ireland for a taxi licence plate to be issued following a successful public service vehicle test.

Angela Smith: The average waiting time for issuing taxi plates following a successful public service vehicle test is eight days.

Water Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the system of water rates will be based on the level of local rates levied on a domestic property.

Shaun Woodward: Water charges will not be based on the level of local rates levied on a domestic property. However, it is planned that domestic water charges will be introduced from April 2007 on the basis of a hybrid charging regime. This will mean that separate charges for water and sewerage services will be based on a standing charge, together with a variable charge based on the discrete capital value of the property. The charges will be levied and collected by the water company and will be entirely separate from local rates.
	The Valuation and Lands Agency (VLA) is currently valuing all domestic properties in Northern Ireland as part of the reform of the domestic rating system. The capital value used in the calculation of water and sewerage charges will be the valuation determined by VLA.

Water Service Telemetry Centre

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes there have been in the number of staff working at the Water Service telemetry centre in Derry in each of the last three years; and what plans he has to re-locate the Water Service telemetry operations to one site.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katherine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katherine Bryan, dated 6 December 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what changes there have been in the number of staff working at the Water Service telemetry centre in Derry in each of the last three years, and what plans he has to re-locate the Water Service telemetry operations to one site (33974). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	Water Service has four telemetry centres, based in Londonderry, Belfast, Ballymena and Craigavon, which monitor water and sewerage installations across Northern Ireland. There has been no change over the last three years to the number of Water Service staff working in the Londonderry telemetry unit based at Altnagelvin.
	Following a review of telemetry operations, Water Service decided to centralise the telemetry function on one site to achieve efficiencies and standardisation of practices. This will be introduced through a phased approach with the four units reducing to two at Londonderry and Belfast in early 2006 and centralisation on one site in early 2007. The site for the centralised telemetry operation has not yet been identified. In conjunction with this centralisation the hardware and software of the telemetry monitoring system will be upgraded.
	The centralisation of telemetry services will provide significant benefits for Water Service and its customers including standardised telemetry practice, improved monitoring services and savings on manpower costs.